Non-interlacing peakon solutions of the Geng-Xue equation

The aim of the present paper is to derive explicit formulas for arbitrary peakon solutions of the Geng-Xue equation, a two-component generalization of Novikov's cubically nonlinear Camassa-Holm type equation. By performing limiting procedures on the previosly known formulas for so-called interlacing peakon solutions, where the peakons in the two component occur alternatingly, we turn some of the peakons into zero-amplitude "ghostpeakons", in such a way that the remaining ordinary peakons occur in any desired configuration. We also study the large-time asymptotics of these solutions.Comment: 133 pages, 25 figures. pdfLaTeX + AMS packages + hyperref + Tik

Does doctor know best? The recent trend in medical negligence

Presently, the tort system is used to regulate medical negligence litigation in Malaysia. Generally, this system provides for compensation only when a doctor or any other medical personnel assisting in the treatment of a patient is negligent. Previously, in determining whether a doctor was negligent in diagnosis, treatment and advice, the court had shown a deferential attitude towards medical judgment. This is in contrast to the attitude of the court towards other professions such as engineers and architectures where the court does not hesitate in questioning the appropriateness and reasoning of the standard practice adopted by those professionals. However, this deferential attitude which is encapsulated in the phrase “a doctor knows best” is slowly dissipating. This article will look at this development of the law by highlighting selected landmark cases that enumerate this change in court’s attitude. It is important for radiologists, in Malaysia in particular, to understand the implication in everyday practice

Relationship of zooplankton and environmental parameter with emphasis on copepods at Pulau Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia

There is little information on the effect of environmental parameters on the zooplankton biomass and density in the marine ecosystem. This research added on to the knowledge as results proposes statistical modeling including aspects of biomass and density to environmental parameters. The objectives are (i) to determine the impacts of environmental changes on zooplankton density and biomass in the coastal water of Pulau Tinggi, Johor, (ii) To determine the community structure and biodiversity of copepods in the coastal water of Pulau Tinggi Johor, (iii) To apply multiple linear regression model on the relationship between the copepods and environmental parameters in the coastal water of Pulau Tinggi. The collected zooplankton samples were taken to the laboratory of UTHM and further analyzed for density and biomass of 3 size fractions. Environmental parameters were measured in situ. Biomass and density of zooplankton were dependent variables while environmental parameters were independent variables. Zooplankton was classified into seven taxonomic groups; copepods, larvaceans, chaetognaths, cnidarians, ctenophores, decapods and polychaetes. The copepods were categorized in to four orders; Calanoida, Poecilostomatoida, Cyclopoida and Harpacticoida. This included a total of 54 species, 26 genera and 19 families of copepods. Calanoida was the abundant group represented by 36 species in our study. The values of diversity index showed that Pulau Tinggi sea grass bed was considered the moderate diverse ecosystem during the research period. Results showed that statistical model of small size zooplankton (< 500 μm) is the best model for the zooplankton biomass. Water depth, turbidity, water current, temperature and salinity were significant variables for small size zooplankton model. This model could be used for the prediction and estimation of zooplankton biomass. The Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that environmental parameters like water current, rainfall, tide, nitrates and rainy days strongly influencing the biomass and density of copepod

Urban Development Transitions and their Implications for Poverty Reduction and Policy Planning in Uganda

Urbanization is one of the critical global trends shaping the future of humanity. At the same time, it has been argued that full development requires an urbanized environment. This paper attempts to examine and characterize the major phases of urbanizatiotransitions, urbanization, planning, poverty, Uganda

Effect of hyperthermia on prognosis after acute ischemic stroke

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background and Purpose:&lt;/b&gt; Experimental studies have shown that hyperthermia is a determinant of poor outcome after ischemic stroke. Clinical studies evaluating the effect of temperature on poststroke outcome have, however, been limited by small sample sizes. We sought to evaluate the effect of temperature and timing of hyperthermia on outcome after ischemic stroke.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Data of 5305 patients in acute stroke trials from the Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive (VISTA) data set were analyzed. Data for temperatures at baseline, eighth, 24th, 48th, and 72nd hours, and seventh day were assessed in relation to outcome (poor versus good) based on the modified Rankin Scale at 3 months. Hyperthermia was defined as temperature &#62;37.2°C and poor outcome as 90-day modified Rankin Scale &#62;2. Hazard ratios with 95% CIs were reported for hyperthermia in relation to the outcome. Logistic regression models, in relation to hyperthermia, were fitted for a set of preselected covariates at different time points to identify predictors/determinants of hyperthermia.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The average age of patients was 68.0&#177;11.9 years, 2380 (44.9%) were females, and 42.3% (2233) received thrombolysis using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. After adjustment, hyperthermia was a statistically significant predictor of poor outcome. The hazard ratios (95% CI) for poor outcome in relation to hyperthermia at different time points were: baseline 1.2 (1.0 to 1.4), eighth hour 1.7 (1.2 to 2.2), 24th hour 1.5 (1.2 to 1.9), 48th hour 2.0 (1.5 to 2.6), 72nd hour 2.2 (1.7 to 2.9), and seventh day 2.7 (2.0 to 3.8). Gender, stroke severity (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score &#62;16), white blood cell count, and antibiotic use were significantly associated with hyperthermia (P&#8804;0.01).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; Hyperthermia, in acute ischemic stroke, is associated with a poor clinical outcome. The later the hyperthermia occurs within the first week, the worse the prognosis. Severity of stroke and inflammation are important determinants of hyperthermia after ischemic stroke. In patients with acute ischemic stroke, aggressive measures to prevent and treat hyperthermia could improve the clinical outcomes.&lt;/p&gt

Letter: Manufacturing categories – the case of disabled sportspersons

No Abstract South African Sports Medicine Vol.17(1) 2005: 31-3

Simulation And Self-Assessment: A Medical-Simulation Based Exploration Of Medical Trainee Understanding Of Epa 6 (oral Presentation) And Epa 8 (handoff)

Abstract SIMULATION AND SELF-ASSESSMENT: A MEDICAL-SIMULATION BASED EXPLORATION OF TRAINEE UNDERSTANDING OF EPA 6 (ORAL PRESENTATION) AND EPA 8 (HANDOFF) Shuaib Raza, Katherine Gielissen and Tiffany Moadel. Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT Introduction: Entrustable Professional Activities are clinical tasks that are observable, executable, and reflect one or more clinical competency. The goal of “entrustment” is that trainees perform their work safely and effectively without supervision once they have demonstrated sufficient competency. Simulation offers a unique opportunity to assess EPAs and objectively measure skills without threat to patient safety. Dr. Gielissen and Dr. Moadel chose oral presentations (EPA 6) and handoffs (EPA 8) due to their natural interconnectedness and ability to be readily measured in a simulation environment. Methods: The study is a prospective, mixed methods approach at a single site (Yale School of Medicine). Sample: Students were recruited from all class levels (MS1-5) at Yale School of Medicine to undergo two 30 minute emergency medicine simulations. Data collection: Immediately following simulation, students were asked to complete a brief survey of 4 questions describing an ideal hand-off and oral presentation, as well as a self reflection on their own hand-off and oral presentation skills. They also rated themselves on a supervisory entrustment scale (1-5). Data analysis: Self-assessment data were analyzed for significant associations with students’ demographics via SPSS. Qualitative responses were coded and analyzed via inductive reasoning and compared to the AAMC Core EPA Developers Toolkit (Core EPA Curriculum Developers Guide 2014). Results: There was a significant correlation between higher self-assessment scores and months spent in medical school for both oral presentations and hand-offs. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between higher self-assessment scores and number of prior simulation experience and English as a primary language for oral presentations. Self-assigned hand-off score and oral presentation score were also significantly correlated with each other. No correlation was observed between self-assessed scores of either handoff or oral presentation and gender. Discussion: As expected, our study demonstrates a positive correlation between self-assessed entrustment scoring and the number of months in medical school as well as amount of exposure to simulation for oral presentation specifically. However, many students self-scored higher than would be expected for their level of training (expected level at graduation is 3, indicating readiness for indirect supervision). These findings mirror those observed by Dunning and Kruger in 1999, where students with greater preparation or experience demonstrate a more accurate score, whereas the early trainees appeared to demonstrate greater insight. Qualitative data from this study will form a key component of understanding between any discrepancies between attending entrustment scoring and students’ self-scores as part of a larger concurrent study

Planning innovation for better urban communities in sub-Saharan Africa: The education challenge and potential responses

Cities in the sub-Saharan Africa region present challenges to the urban and regional&nbsp;planning profession, city managers, leaders, educationists and dwellers (Rakodi, 1997,&nbsp;2001; McGill, 1988; Diaw, Nnkya &amp; Watson, 2002). This is at a time when Africa is urbanising&nbsp;faster than any other region (UN-Habitat, 2008), calling for a rethinking of planning to&nbsp;respond to existing needs. Although the current urbanisation level is at 39.1% (UN-Habitat,&nbsp;2008), it is projected to increase to over 50% by 2025. This outstanding demographic shift&nbsp;on the African continent and particularly in the sub-Saharan region presents current and&nbsp;future urban challenges. In addition to the future challenges, the unresolved question&nbsp;as to whether existing and much utilised models of urban development offer solutions&nbsp;to the planning needs in the region should be investigated, although it is important to&nbsp;recognise the failures of locally designed initiatives. The models have been critiqued widely&nbsp;(Brockerhoff, 2000; Arimah &amp; Adeagbo, 2000) and this is not the focus of this article. However,&nbsp;it is necessary to recognise that the planning profession has relied on these models through&nbsp;the planning education system. Notwithstanding the challenges of resources, leadership,&nbsp;and political dispensations, planning education systems have played a role in influencing&nbsp;and shaping urban development in the region. Although planning models have been&nbsp;critiqued, planning education systems have received less attention in respect of their&nbsp;role in influencing the development pathways of cities in sub-Saharan Africa. Likewise,&nbsp;planning education systems have not adequately been viewed as points of entry in&nbsp;planning innovation for new urban Africa. Drawing from experiences of cities in the region,&nbsp;two urban development processes can be discerned: first, the explosion of some cities&nbsp;particularly former colonial administrative or economic hubs and, second, the fast growth&nbsp;of secondary cities. There are also many small rural trading centres and ‘hamlets’ with&nbsp;densities comparable to neighbourhoods of the large-cities. The latter, conceptualised&nbsp;in this article as urbanisation by implosion, is not properly accounted for in the national&nbsp;statistical reports. Several drivers are responsible for this urbanisation, including population&nbsp;dynamics, legislative designation, and increasing densities in rural trading centres. The&nbsp;challenges of social service provision, sustainable economic development, housing&nbsp;delivery, urban governance, spatial development guidance and urban environmental&nbsp;management are yet to be thoroughly analysed and rethought in planning education in&nbsp;the context of addressing the existing needs. This article examines the planning education&nbsp;system and how it has influenced the nature and shape of cities in sub-Saharan Africa, the&nbsp;outcome of which may not have substantively responded to existing needs. This article&nbsp;will also identify possible points of innovation in planning education that may create a&nbsp;difference in addressing the existing needs in sub-Saharan Africa.&nbsp

Costume and Make-Up as Indispensable Arts in Theatre Practice : A Historical Survey

No Abstract