The Future of Surgical Research

Surgeons seem to love publishing case series, which are of limited usefulness. How can we encourage them to do randomized clinical trials

The Evolution of a Spatial Stochastic Network

The asymptotic behavior of a stochastic network represented by a birth and death processes of particles on a compact state space is analyzed. Births: Particles are created at rate $\lambda_+$ and their location is independent of the current configuration. Deaths are due to negative particles arriving at rate $\lambda_-$. The death of a particle occurs when a negative particle arrives in its neighborhood and kills it. Several killing schemes are considered. The arriving locations of positive and negative particles are assumed to have the same distribution. By using a combination of monotonicity properties and invariance relations it is shown that the configurations of particles converge in distribution for several models. The problems of uniqueness of invariant measures and of the existence of accumulation points for the limiting configurations are also investigated. It is shown for several natural models that if $\lambda_+<\lambda_-$ then the asymptotic configuration has a finite number of points with probability 1. Examples with $\lambda_+<\lambda_-$ and an infinite number of particles in the limit are also presented

The Worldwide Change in the Behavior of Interest Rates and Prices in 1914

This paper evaluates the role of the destruction of the gold standard and the founding of the Federal Reserve, both of which occurred in 1914, in contributing to observed changes in the behavior of interest rates and prices after 1914. The paper presents a model of policy coordination in which the introduction of the Fed stabilizes interest rates, even if the gold standard remains intact, and it offers empirical evidence that the dismantling of the gold standard did not play a crucial role in precipitating the changes in interest rate behavior.

Development and integration of a e-invoicing solution into a complex software system

Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, ein für mittelständische und kleine Unternehmen geeignetes Format für die Versendung elektronischer Rechnungen zu finden, hierfür eine Softwarelösung zu entwickeln und diese in ein bestehendes Produkt zu integrieren. Nach gründlicher Analyse fiel die Entscheidung auf das ZUGFeRD-Format, für welches eine nun kommerziell vertriebene Komponente entwickelt wurde, die zusammen mit einem, im Rahmen der Arbeit entwickelten E-Mail-Client, in die Software HSC-AuftragPlus integriert wurde. Damit lassen sich ZUGFeRDRechnungen ohne Umwege oder externe Programme sowohl empfangen und importieren, als auch exportieren und versenden. Bei diesen Schritten erfolgt auch immer eine mehrstufige Validierung und entsprechendes Feedback an den Benutzer. Da die Bachelorarbeit auf betriebswirtschaftliche, juristische und informatische Aspekte eingeht, sollte sie insbesondere für Studierende der Informatik und Wirtschaftswissenschaften viele interessante Informationen enthalte

The Molecular Biology of Brain Metastasis

Metastasis to the central nervous system (CNS) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic cancers. Various crucial interactions between the brain environment and tumor cells take place during the development of the cancer at its new location. The rapid expansion in molecular biology and genetics has advanced our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms involved, from invasion to final colonization of new organ tissues. Understanding the various events occurring at each stage should enable targeted drug delivery and individualized treatments for patients, with better outcomes and fewer side effects. This paper summarizes the principal molecular and genetic mechanisms that underlie the development of brain metastasis (BrM)

Treating patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder—SCDA members’ attitudes and behavior

The goal of this study was to explore (a) the attitudes and behavior of members of the Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA) who self-identified as treating patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and (b) the relationship between their professional attitudes and behaviors concerning these patients.Data were collected from 75 SCDA members who responded to an anonymous web-based survey on the SCDA website. The majority of respondents liked to treat children and adults with ASD (57%/56.9%). They treated approximately nine patients with ASD in an average week. The more they liked to treat children with ASD, the more patients with ASD they treated (r = .313; p = .018), and the more accommodations to overcome problems with communication, social interactions and aversion to change they made (r = .404; p < .001).Providers’ attitudes concerning patients with ASD were quite positive and correlated with professional behavior concerning these patients. Future research should explore whether improving attitudes towards providing care for special needs patients could increase professional behavior and thus contribute to reducing the access to care problems these patients face.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79116/1/j.1754-4505.2010.00173.x.pd