New directional bat algorithm for continuous optimization problems

Bat algorithm (BA) is a recent optimization algorithm based on swarm intelligence and inspiration from the echolocation behavior of bats. One of the issues in the standard bat algorithm is the premature convergence that can occur due to the low exploration ability of the algorithm under some conditions. To overcome this deficiency, directional echolocation is introduced to the standard bat algorithm to enhance its exploration and exploitation capabilities. In addition to such directional echolocation, three other improvements have been embedded into the standard bat algorithm to enhance its performance. The new proposed approach, namely the directional Bat Algorithm (dBA), has been then tested using several standard and non-standard benchmarks from the CEC’2005 benchmark suite. The performance of dBA has been compared with ten other algorithms and BA variants using non-parametric statistical tests. The statistical test results show the superiority of the directional bat algorithm

Uterine torsion of 90 degrees: case report

Uterine torsion is defined as a rotation of uterus more than 45 degrees along its long axis. However, a pathologic rotation of the uterus beyond 45 degrees-torsion of the entire uterus-is rarely seen in obstetrical practice, authors report a case of torsion of the uterus by 90 degrees. The patient, a 30-year-old gravida 3 para 2 at 37 weeks’ gestation with a singleton pregnancy, her prior obstetrical history included two uncomplicated term vaginal deliveries, and the current pregnancy had been uncomplicated until the date of presentation was admitted to the obstetrical unit  with  labour at 37 weeks 5 days ,on obstetric examination the patient was in labour with transversal presentation of the fetus so an emergency caesarean section (CS) was carried out for. At the time of CS, the diagnosis of uterine torsion of 90 degrees was made. After the delivery of the baby, uterus returned to anatomical position and the torsion corrected spontaneously. The patient recovered and was discharged home with her baby on the third postoperative day. Uterine torsion is an infrequently reported and potentially dangerous complication of pregnancy that occurs mainly in the third trimester

Etude épidémiologique de la rhinopneumonie chez les équidés au Maroc

Lors d'une enquête sérologique sur la rhinopneumonie équine au Maroc, 4 775 prélèvements (59,6 % de chevaux, 18 % de mulets et 22,4 % d'ânes) ont été réalisés durant cinq ans (de 1990 à 1994) dans les différentes régions du pays. La séroprévalence globale de l'infection était de 39 %. Les ânes (46 %) étaient plus affectés que les mulets (42 %) et les chevaux (35 %). En outre, chez les trois espèces, la séroprévalence a augmenté avec l'âge jusqu'à trois ans pour atteindre la valeur de 42 % et elle s'est stabilisée pour les animaux plus âgés. Il n'est pas certain que le sexe et la région géographique où vivaient les animaux les prédisposaient à la maladie. Par contre, leurs conditions d'entretien ont constitué un facteur prédisposant à l'infection. Après une stabilisation pendant les quatre premières années, l'incidence de l'infection s'est subitement accrue en 1994 à cause de la sécheresse qui a sévi cette année-là

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Effet de la composition chimique de la solution interstitielle de bétons jeunes sur la passivation d’un acier doux

L’alcalinitéde la solution interstitielle contenue dans les pores du béton engendre la formation d’une couche d’oxyde protectrice à la surface des armatures métalliques. L’objectif de ce travail est d’évaluer l’influence de la composition chimique de la solution interstitielle de bétons jeunes sur la qualité du film d’oxyde formé sur un acier doux C15. Pour ce faire, des mesures électrochimiques sont réalisées à pH 13, dans différentes solutions interstitielles synthétiques (CEM I, II et III), ainsi que dans une solution de référence NaOH 0,1 M et sont combinées à des analyses de surface par XPS. Les courbes de polarisation anodiques montrent l’intérêt des mesures stationnaires. Les diagrammes d’impédance électrochimique, tracés au potentiel de corrosion et à potentiels anodiques, mettent en évidence la présence d’une couche passive protectrice sur la surface d’acier, dont l’épaisseur est de l’ordre de 2,5 à 3 nm, en bon accord avec celle estimée par XPS. Le pH n’est pas le seul paramètre déterminant pour prédire le comportement à la corrosion de l’acier. Ainsi, plus la concentration en sulfate en solution est importante, plus la densité de courant passif stationnaire est élevée et moins la solution est passivante. Par ailleurs, la présence de Fe2+ à la surface du matériau pourrait en partie expliquer le fort pouvoir passivant de la solution CEM III

Impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiation on the tumor burden before liver transplantation for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma

The very early experience with liver transplantation (LT) for cholangiocarcinoma (CC) was dismal because of the poor survival outcomes and the high recurrence rates. However, LT for CC in conjunction with neoadjuvant chemoradiation recently has shown encouraging results, although the data are extremely limited. At our institution between 2001 and 2008, 22 CC patients underwent protocol orthotopic LT at a median age of 45 years (range = 24-63 years). At a median follow-up of 601.5 days (range = 111-1388 days), the median survival time of the cohort was 3.3 years. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year Kaplan-Meier survival probabilities were 90%, 70%, and 63%, respectively, whereas the historical 5-year survival rates were 0% to 18% for intrahepatic CC and 23% to 26% for extrahepatic CC when patients underwent transplantation without neoadjuvant therapy. These encouraging survival rates for patients with this type of tumor, which is difficult to diagnose and treat, are no less significant when they are compared to the national 1- and 3-year survival rates (86% and 68%, respectively) of patients undergoing deceased donor LT for malignant neoplasms of the liver (as reported by the United Network for Organ Sharing). In our series, disease recurrence was significantly associated with a larger residual tumor [6.3 versus 2.0 cm (mean values), P = 0.008] and with a shorter waiting time for LT after the chemoradiation protocol [18 versus 56 days (mean values), P = 0.04]. Our LT protocol for CC was found to be promising for patients with truly extrahepatic CC and for patients within stages I to IIB of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging system (100% survival at a median follow-up of 2.2 years), but the results were notably poor for patients with stage III extrahepatic CC (median survival = 1.2 years). These observations highlight the need for accurate preoperative staging of CC for ideal LT recipient selection and the importance of a low tumor burden and a longer wait after neoadjuvant therapy. More effective chemoradiation regimens for reducing the tumor burden and the appropriate timing of LT after neoadjuvant chemoradiation require further research. Copyright © 2012 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases