Repairable system model with time dependent covariate

In this paper we extend a repairable system model that incorporates both time trend and renewal-type behavior to include a time dependent covariate. We calculated the bias, standard error andrmse of the parameter estimates of this model at different sample sizes using simulated data.Following that, we studied several alternative computer intensive methods of constructingconfidence interval estimates for the parameters of the general model. Alternative methodsrelieve us from making assumptions and having to depend solely on the traditional methods derived from asymptotic statistical theory. In addition, the high capability of modern daycomputers makes these methods easily applicable and practical. Several parametric bootstrap methods and jackknife confidence interval procedures were compared to the Wald interval via coverage probability study. The results clearly show that the B-t and jackknife techniques work much better than other methods when sample sizes are moderate and low. The Wald intervals was found to be highly asymmetrical and only starts to work when sample sizes are rather large

The Adequate Number of Histopathology Cross-sections of Temporal Artery Biopsy in Establishing the Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis

Purpose: To determine the appropriate number of histopathological cross-sections that are required for a conclusive diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the number of sections per slide for paraffin-embedded blocks for 100 randomly selected cases where GCA was suspected and those for negative temporal artery biopsies (TABs) were compared with the number of cross-sections per specimen for eight positive-TABs. All aforementioned examinations were conducted at our center from 2012 to 2016. Then, negative-TABs were retrieved and re-evaluated using light microscopy considering the histopathological findings of GCA. Results: Ninety-five paraffin blocks were retrieved. The original mean biopsy length was 15.39 ± 7.56 mm. Comparison of the mean number of cross-sections per specimen for both the positiveand negative-TABs (9.25 ± 3.37 and 9.53 ± 2.46) showed that 9.87 ± 2.77 [95% confidence intervals (CI)] cross-sections per specimen were sufficient for a precise GCA diagnosis. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean biopsy length (P = 0.142) among the eight positive-TABs. Similarly, no significant difference was observed in the number of cross-sections per specimen (P = 0.990) for positive-TABs compared to those for the negative-TABs. After the retrieval of negative-TABs, the mean number of total pre- and post-retrieval cross-sections per specimen was 17.66 ± 4.43. Among all retrieved specimens, only one case (0.01%) showed the histopathological features of healed arteritis. Conclusion: Positive-TABs did not reveal more histological cross-sections than the negative ones and increasing the number of cross-sections did not enhance the accuracy of TAB

The effect of Complementary and Alternative Medicines on the symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis patients: A Systematic Review

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-threatening hereditary disease among Caucasian populations. Due to the side effects caused by this disease and the high amount of drugs used by the affected patients, performing extensive research seems necessary to find the treatments with greater effectiveness and fewer side effects. The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is common in both developing and developed countries, but currently available studies performed on the effectiveness of CAM on improving symptoms and reducing complications of CF patients are very limited.Objective: This systematic review was performed to evaluate the effects of CAM therapies on patients with CF.Methods: Six credible medical databases (including Cochrane, Science Direct, Embase, ISI, PubMed, and Scopus) were investigated from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2020, in order to find relevant English-language publications.Results: From among 1213 articles screened, 57 studies with 2525 patients were included in this study. These articles were then sub-grouped into four categories, including ‘acupuncture’, ‘body techniques’, ‘dietary supplements/nutrition/diet’, and ‘herbal medicine’.The articles evaluating one of the four parameters of quality of life, pain, pulmonary function, or body mass index were included to be evaluated.Conclusion: Although we have not evaluated all the studies in the field of the effect of complementary medicine on CF, the review consisting of a large number of these articles showed that despite the great potential of complementary and alternative medicines in this field, extensive research is still needed in this regard

The exhibition public right

Le droit d’exposition comme la prérogative patrimoniale du droit d’auteur est l’objet de notre étude. L’exposition publique de l’œuvre est assimilée à un mode d’exploitation au sens du droit d’auteur, c’est une comme une utilité reconnue, réservée à l’auteur. Pourtant l’exercice de ce droit se caractérise par une confusion dans les pratiques contractuelles. L’objet d’art et l’œuvre de l’esprit se confondent. La primauté du droit de la propriété matérielle joue un rôle important dans la reconnaissance du droit d’exposition à une œuvre de l’esprit. Pourtant celle-ci s’incarne dans une matière afin d’être perceptible au sens. L’exposition publique de l’œuvre est le mode de communication d’une œuvre de l’esprit au sens du droit de représentation.The right of public exhibition right like a copyright law for the artistic works is objective of our research. Public exhibition can be assimilated to a traditional mode of exploitation of artworks. This mode of exploitation of artworks can be recognised by the copyrights and reserved by artiste. But the exhibition right has been confused in the contract practice. The artistic work see like an objetct. The copyright can not be recognised for the artworks because of the material object. But the works of artistes like artistic work and they artistic expression are communicated to the public in exhibition. This is an exploitation of artistic work in the public exhibition

How to disable mortal loops of ERP implementation: A System dynamics analysis

Despite the fact that ERP system are introduced more than two decades ago, their implementation failure rate is still high. Such high risk in ERP implementation failure is the most important challenge for organizations to accept the risks or to eliminate ERP solutions and deal with the lack of process integrity problems in competitive e-business environment. Successful ERP implementation depends on various factors known as critical success factors (CSFs) which are mainly focused by both ERP researchers and practitioners. Questions which may arise is why ERP implementation failure risk is still high while there are lots of comprehensive analysis on CSFs and how organizations are able to reduce the failure risk through focusing on CSFs. To answer above questions this study developed a proposition system dynamic model of ERP implementation based on CSFs to discuss ERP implementation complexities, which identifies CSFs causal feedback loops and effects of those loops on different aspects of failure. The model is able to completely cover risk management cycle and illustrate impacts of applied policies on CSFs behavior change, cause implementation failure. Consequently it can be used to compare performance of different policies to achieve the best tradeoff on different ERP implementation success indicators

Chewing gum base: A comprehensive review of composition, production, and assessment methods: Advances and approaches in biodegradability

The gum base mass is a colloidal system and the main component of chewing gum; which is an inert, non-nutritious, indigestible, and insoluble part of chewing gum, therefore this substance does not dissolve in the mouth when chewed. The gum base plays the most crucial role in determining the mechanical properties, flexibility, and overall quality of chewing gum. Moreover, it acts as a delivery system to transport sweeteners, flavorings, and other ingredients in chewing gum. Despite the massive market for chewing gum and the provision of a list of the main ingredients in gum base by the Code of Federal Regulations and some international organizations, there is a lack of information about chewing gum base and its compositions in the literature. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to present an overview of the characteristics, ingredients and applications, production process, assessment, and modification methods of the gum base along with the advances and approaches in biodegradability. Biodegradability concerns play a promoting role in the research and development of chewing gum and its applications in the food industry, medical and dental sectors. Reviewing previous studies can surely help for faster development of this path