Smoking and ethnic group, not epidural use, determine breast feeding outcome

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The introduction of a surgical safety checklist in a tertiary referral obstetric centre

Background: Surgery-related adverse events remain a significant and often under-reported problem. In a recent study, the introduction of a perioperative checklist by the WHO reduced deaths and complications by 46% and 36% respectively. The authors wished to evaluate the introduction of a surgical safety checklist in a busy obstetric tertiary referral centre by assessing staff attitudes, checklist compliance and effects upon patients. Methods: A questionnaire-based assessment was performed on staff working in obstetric theatres before and after the introduction of the surgical safety checklist. Checklist compliance was assessed at 3 months and 1 year. Patients were asked questions relating to the performance of the surgical safety checklist in order to evaluate any anxiety caused. Results: Non-medical staff were significantly more likely than medical staff to feel familiar with other team members both before (p<0.001) and after (

Smart integrated adaptive centralized controller for islanded microgrids under minimized load shedding

In this paper, a smart integrated adaptive centralized controller is proposed for monitoring and controlling integrated renewable energy sources (RESs), both for intentional and unintentional islanding modes of operation for microgrids, as well as, for a variable range of transient load shedding and fault scenarios corresponding to electrical power system outages. It is demonstrated that the proposed smart adaptive controller is capable of instructing fast frequency response by proper coordination of the dispatch of RESs units such as, mini-hydro, Photovoltaic (PV), Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and standby diesel generators. In particular, the BESS used as power reserve, at the early stage of fault events can prevent detrimental and uncontrollable system frequency decline and the extent of load shedding. In summary, the performance of a centralized controller in terms of a fast frequency response recovery feature is validated for an actual microgrid distribution network of Malaysia. The demonstration of this intelligent control scheme highlights the advantage of utilizing the fast power recovery response of energy storage and standby generator, which fulfil the criteria for minimal load shedding from the main grid, during the unintentional microgrid islanding conditions

Dynamics of coherently pumped lasers with linearly polarized pump and generated fields

The influence of light polarization on the dynamics of an optically pumped single-mode laser with a homogeneously broadened four-level medium is theoretically investigated in detail. Pump and laser fields with either parallel or crossed linear polarizations are considered, as are typical in far-infrared-laser experiments. Numerical simulations reveal dramatically different dynamic behaviors for these two polarization configurations. The analysis of the model equations allows us to find the physical origin of both behaviors. In particular, the crossed-polarization configuration is shown to be effective in decoupling the pump and laser fields, thus allowing for the appearance of Lorenz-type dynamics

Randomized crossover comparison between the i-gel and the LMA-Unique in anaesthetized, paralysed adults

<b>Background</b>: The i-gel differs from other supraglottic airway devices, in that it has a softer, non-inflatable cuff. This study was designed to compare the performance of the i-gel and the LMA-Unique (LMA-U) when used during anaesthesia in paralysed patients. <b>Methods</b>: Both devices were studied in 39 anaesthetized, paralysed patients in a randomized crossover trial. The primary outcome was airway leak pressure. Secondary outcomes included time to insertion, the number of insertion and reposition attempts, leak volumes, and leak fractions. <b>Results</b>: There was no significant difference between the airway leak pressures of the two devices [median (IQR) leak pressures 25 (22–30) vs 22 (20–28) cm H2O for the i-gel and LMA-U, respectively; P=0.083, 95% CI of the mean difference –0.32 to 4.88 cm H2O]. The median (IQR) insertion time for the i-gel was significantly less than for the LMA-U [12.2 (9.7–14.3) vs 15.2 (13.2–17.3) s; P=0.007]. All the LMA-U devices and 38 of 39 i-gel airways were inserted at the first attempt. The number of manipulations required after insertion to achieve a clear airway was the same in both the groups (four in each). There were no statistically significant differences in leak volumes or leak fractions during controlled ventilation. <b>Conclusions</b>: We found no difference in leak pressures and success rate of first-time insertion between the i-gel and the LMA-U. Time to successful insertion was significantly shorter for the i-gel. We conclude that the i-gel provides a reasonable alternative to the LMA-U for controlled ventilation during anaesthesia

Bilateral Non-Syndromic Multiple Supernumerary Teeth- A Rare Case Report

Hyperdontia or supernumerary teeth is the development of an increased number of teeth, other than the normal dentition. Supernumerary teeth can be single or multiple, unilateral or bilateral. Supernumerary teeth are mostly associated with syndromes and their presence in a non-syndromic patient is not common. Early diagnosis and management should be done to reduce complications caused by this developmental anomaly

Hyperon weak radiative decays in chiral perturbation theory

We investigate the leading-order amplitudes for weak radiative decays of hyperons in chiral perturbation theory. We consistently include contributions from the next-to-leading order weak-interaction Lagrangian. It is shown that due to these terms Hara's theorem is violated. The data for the decays of charged hyperons can be easily accounted for. However, at this order in the chiral expansion, the four amplitudes for the decays of neutral hyperons satisfy relations which are in disagreement with the data. The asymmetry parameters for all the decays can not be accounted for without higher-order terms. We shortly comment on the effect of the 27-plet part of the weak interaction.Comment: 8 pages of REVTeX and using macro-package "feynman.tex" (available at http://xxx.lanl.gov/ftp/hep-ph/papers/macros) for the 2 figure

Study of the decay asymmetry parameter and CP violation parameter in the Lambdac+ --> Lambda pi+ decay

Using data from the FOCUS (E831) experiment at Fermilab, we present a new measurement of the weak decay-asymmetry parameter alpha(Lambdac) in Lambdac --> Lambda pi decay. Comparing particle with antiparticle decays, we obtain the first measurement of the CP violation parameter : A = [alpha(Lambdac)+alpha(antiLambda_c)]/[alpha(Lambdac)-alpha(antiLambda_c)]. We obtain alpha(Lambdac)=-0.78+-0.16+-0.13 and A = -0.07+-0.19+-0.12 where errors are statistical and systematic.Comment: 18 pages, to be submitted to Phys. Lett. B For a list of the FOCUS collaboration, see http://www-focus.fnal.gov/authors.htm

Reconceptualizing Profit-Orientation in Management: A Karmic View on "Return on Investment" Calculations

From the perspective of the present day, Puritan-inspired capitalism seems to have succeeded globally, including in India. Connected to this, short-term profit-orientation in management seems to constrain the scope of different management approaches in a tight ideological corset. This article discusses the possibility of replacing this Puritan doctrine with the crucial elements of Indian philosophy: Karma and samsara. In doing so, the possibility of revising the guiding principles in capitalist management becomes conceivable, namely the monetary focus of profit-orientation and its short-term orientation. This perspective allows a detachment of the concept of profit from the realm of money, as the seemingly only objectifiable measure of profit. Furthermore it allows a removal of the expectation that every "investment" has to directly "pay off". A karmic view offers management a possible facility for being more caring about the needs and fates of other stakeholders, as profit-orientation would no longer be attached as a factual constraint to merely accumulate money. (author's abstract

HACE1 deficiency causes an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental syndrome

Background: The genetic etiology of neurodevelopmental defects is extremely diverse, and the lack of distinctive phenotypic features means that genetic criteria are often required for accurate diagnostic classification. We aimed to identify the causative genetic lesions in two families in which eight affected individuals displayed variable learning disability, spasticity and abnormal gait. Methods: Autosomal recessive inheritance was suggested by consanguinity in one family and by sibling recurrences with normal parents in the second. Autozygosity mapping and exome sequencing, respectively, were used to identify the causative gene. Results: In both families, biallelic loss-of-function mutations in HACE1 were identified. HACE1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that regulates the activity of cellular GTPases, including Rac1 and members of the Rab family. In the consanguineous family, a homozygous mutation p.R219* predicted a truncated protein entirely lacking its catalytic domain. In the other family, compound heterozygosity for nonsense mutation p.R748* and a 20-nt insertion interrupting the catalytic HECT domain was present; Western analysis of patient cells revealed an absence of detectable HACE1 protein. Conclusion: HACE1 mutations underlie a new autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder. Previous studies have implicated HACE1 as a tumour suppressor gene; however, since cancer predisposition was not observed either in homozygous or heterozygous mutation carriers, this concept may require re-evaluation