Intuitive Transformation of UML2 Activities into Fundamental Modeling Concept Petri Nets and Colored Petri Nets

Non

The outcome of elderly patients following removal of indwelling urinary catheter

The objectives of this study were to examine the documented indications for the insertion of the indwelling urinary catheter in elderly patients before admission to Zammit Clapp Hospital, St. Julians and St Vincent de Paule Residence, Luqa and to study the outcome after attempting removal of the indwelling urinary catheter. 64 patients from Zammit Clapp Hospital and 61 patients from St. Vincent de Paule Residence were studied. In 34 patients (24%), no clear reason for catheterisation prior to admission could be identified. In 46 patients (32 %) catheterisation was performed for severe uncontrollable incontinence. In all, 66 patients had their indwelling urinary catheter removed at some stage. Of these a total of 49 patients were continent 15 days after the removal of the catheter, 33 patients were still continent after 3 months and 29 patients remained continent after one year. With regards’ to continence rate, a poorer outcome was noted in patients with a mental score of less than 5/10, when compared to patients with a mental score of more than 5/10. Continence rates were better in patients from Zammit Clapp Hospital than in patients from St. Vincent de Paule residence. In conclusion, attempts should be made to use long term indwelling urinary catheterisation only if other measures fail. This can be achieved by proper multi-disciplinary team assessment and education of the patient or his carers. Full support from social services and provision and advice about the use of continence aids is necessary.peer-reviewe

The cultivation and cucurbitacin content of Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. rich

Although Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich., is considered as a minor crop in the Cucurbitaceae family. However, its medicinal virtues and its resistance to pests and diseases, have made the plant a suitable candidate to improve crop quality in Cucurbitaceae species. Cultivation studies were aimed at assessing the growth of the plant and the variation of cucurbitacins in the plant tissue with a change in the seasons.peer-reviewe

Habitat studies for the wild stocks of Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich

Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich. (Cucurbitaceae), is a wild Mediterranean medicinal plant which has been described to thrive in drastic environmental conditions. In one study, it has been described to be frost-tolerant as compared to other wild species of the Cucurbitaceae family. This study was conducted on E. elaterium wild stocks growing in Malta (Central Mediterranean), on several soil types in order to determine the soil conditions ideal for the growth of this disease-resistant wild species.peer-reviewe

Ordinary Petri Net Matrices

This work presents some ideas and theory on representing ordinary Petri nets using matrices and builds on previous work in [11],[12]. The three main types of matrices used for Petri net representation are the input, output and incidence matrices. The motivation for this work is that matrices can provide an alternative way to describe Petri nets from the conventional graphical representation. As is indicated several properties can be inferred, observed and derived from the matrices. Some definitions and examples are used

Modeling and Analysis of Real Time Control Systems: A Cruise Control System Case Study

Non

Cardiac arrest recognition and telephone CPR by emergency medical dispatchers

Emergency Medical Service (EMS) systems annually encounters about 275 000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in Europe and approximately 420,000 cases in the United States.1 Survival rates have been reported to be poor with approximately 10% survival to hospital discharge.2 The chance of surviving from an OHCA is highly associated with Emergency Medical Dispatchers’ (EMD) recognition of cardiac arrest, early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and early defibrillation.3-6 This study was a simulation based study. All emergency nurses who were eligible by training to answer 112 calls and activate the EMS were included in this study. The simulations were run by two experienced ED nurses who followed predefined scripts. The two key questions that the authors were after included ascertaining patient responsiveness and breathing status. EMDs who offered telephone assisted CPR (tCPR) were noted and observed. The mean percentage recognition of out of hospital cardiac arrest by the Maltese EMDs was 67%. 28% of EMDs who recognized cardiac arrest asked both questions regarding patient’s responsiveness and breathing whilst only 8% of EMDs who did not recognize cardiac arrest asked both questions. The mean percentage of telephone assisted CPR was 58%. Conclusion: When compared to other European countries, OHCA recognition by Maltese EMDs needs to improve. However, given that the local EMDs have no formal guidelines or algorithms for their use during 112 calls, results are encouraging to say the least especially in telephone assisted CPR. With educatiopeer-reviewe

The cytotoxic Activity of Cucurbitacin E and Busulphan on ovarian and stomach cancer cells in vitro : a comparative study

A comparative study of the cytotoxicity of cucurbitacin E, a natural product, and busulphan on human ovarian and stomach cell lines was carried out. The cells were exposed to different concentrations of these two compounds and cell viability was determined from day 0 to day 11. It was observed that cucurbitacin E had a marked effect on the ovarian cancer cell line while busulphan showed a similar effect when exposed to the stomach cancer cell line. The drug-cell combinations showed a pronounced cell kill exponential curve, leading to the conclusion that cucurbitacin E exerts its pinocytic activity on the ovarian cancer cells while busulphan exerts its alkylating effect on the stomach cancer cells.peer-reviewe

Estimating the electrical conductivity of a saturated soil paste extract (ECe) from 1 : 1 (EC1 : 1), 1 : 2 (EC1 : 2) and 1 : 5 (EC1 : 5) soil : water suspension ratios, in calcareous soils from the Mediterranean Islands of Malta

The standard method to determine soil salinity is by measuring the electrical conductivity (EC) of a saturated soil paste extract (ECe). Models that convert EC of soil:water suspensions (EC(soil:water)) to ECe are soil specific and are not universal models. This study aimed to develop models to convert EC(1:1; 1:2; 1:5) to ECe for the calcareous soil of Malta. Moreover, the effect that soil texture, carbonate and organic matter content might have on these models was investigated. Using 114 soil samples with contrasting textural, carbonate and organic matter characteristics, the general models followed the equation ECe = 10(a(logEC(soil:water))+b) with good correlation coefficients (r2 = 0.91–0.93, p < .001). Models specific to fine and medium textured soil, soils with carbonate content between 35% and 50%, and soils with organic matter content between 2.5% and 4.2% showed a higher correlation coefficient (mean r 2 = 0.96). Validation of the models using 22 independent soil samples showed that the general models are reliable (RMSE = 0.93, 0.87, 0.97 dS m−1; NSE = 0.96, 0.97 and 0.95 for 1:1, 1:2 and 1:5, respectively). Except for the models developed from coarse textured soil, all the parameter-specific models were reliable. This study suggests that the general models could be used for soils of Malta having contrasting characteristics except for those with high sand content.peer-reviewe

Simultaneous identification of GSTP1 Ile105→Val105 and Ala114→Val114 substitutions using an amplification refractory mutation systempolymerase chain reactionassay: studies in patients with asthma

BACKGROUND: The glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme GSTP1 utilizes byproducts of oxidative stress. We previously showed that alleles of GSTP1 that encode the Ile105→Val105 substitution are associated with the asthma phenotypes of atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). However, a further polymorphic site (Ala114→Val114) has been identified that results in the following alleles: GSTP1(*)A (wild-type Ile105→Ala114), GSTP1(*)B (Val105→Ala114), GSTP1(*)C (Val105→Val114) and GSTP1(*)D (Ile105→Val114). METHODS: Because full identification of GSTP1 alleles may identify stronger links with asthma phenotypes, we describe an amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) assay that allows identification of all genotypes. We explored whether the GSTP1 substitutions influence susceptibility to asthma, atopy and BHR. RESULTS: Among 191 atopic nonasthmatic, atopic asthmatic and nonatopic nonasthmatic individuals, none had the BD, CD, or DD genotypes. GSTP1 BC was significantly associated with reduced risk for atopy (P = 0.031). Compared with AA, trend test analysis identified a significant decrease in the frequency of GSTP1 BC with increasing severity of BHR (P = 0.031). Similarly, the frequency of GSTP1 AA increased with increasing BHR. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that GSTP1(*)B and possibly GSTP1(*)C are protective against asthma and related phenotypes