The Egyptian Cardiothoracic Surgeon (ECTS - E-Journal)
Not a member yet
46902 research outputs found
Sort by
Errors in Linking Survey and Administrative Data
No full textLinking surveys with administrative records is regarded as a useful and cost-effective means of supplementing survey data collection with existing administrative sources. There are several strengths of administrative records that make them attractive for linking to surveys. An important strength is that they are relatively inexpensive to obtain and use. Linking survey and administrative information also offers many substantive research possibilities, including detailed microanalysis. This chapter provides a conceptual framework for the possible errors that can be introduced by linking survey and administrative records. It describes the linkage consent process, summarizes the literature on linkage consent issues, and reviews factors that may influence linkage consent rates and biases. The chapter also provides an overview of linkage using unique identifiers and summarizes the different errors that can occur. It shows best practice examples of linkage applications from different countries and offers practical guidance for future linkage projects to avoid known sources of error.<br/
Intrinsic volumes of polyhedral cones: a combinatorial perspective
No full textThe theory of intrinsic volumes of convex cones has recently found striking applications in areas such as convex optimization and compressive sensing. This article provides a self-contained account of the combinatorial theory of intrinsic volumes for polyhedral cones. Direct derivations of the General Steiner formula, the conic analogues of the Brianchon-Gram-Euler and the Gauss-Bonnet relations, and the Principal Kinematic Formula are given. In addition, a connection between the characteristic polynomial of a hyperplane arrangement and the intrinsic volumes of the regions of the arrangement, due to Klivans and Swartz, is generalized and some applications are presented
Making a Difference
No full textMaking a Difference presents fifteen original essays on causation and counterfactuals by an international team of experts. Collectively, they represent the state of the art on these topics. The essays in this volume are inspired by the life and work of Peter Menzies, who made a difference in the lives of students, colleagues, and friends. Topics covered include: the semantics of counterfactuals, agency theories of causation, the context-sensitivity of causal claims, structural equation models, mechanisms, mental causation, causal exclusion argument, free will, and the consequence argument
Do board interlocks motivate voluntary disclosure? Evidence from Taiwan
No full textConference calls have become a widely used medium for voluntary corporate disclosure, especially among firms associated with greater information asymmetry, intangible assets, and external competition. These features are common in high-tech sectors, which dominate the Taiwanese economy and render it a useful research setting for investigating whether board interlock, as a social network, affects corporate decisions to hold conference calls. We show that firms connected to conference-call-making firms through interlocked directors are more likely to hold conference calls and the frequency of holding conference calls increases with interlocking directors’ relevant experience. Moreover, such evidence is more pronounced if the connections are held through independent directors and among firms with greater information asymmetry. These results support the argument that the spread of corporate practices is positively associated with board interlock networks. Our findings have implications for the choice of board of director members, and can be generalized to other emerging economies characterized by weaker corporate information environments.<br/
Correlative EBSD and SKPFM Characterisation of Microstructure Development to Assist Determination of Corrosion Propensity in Grade 2205 Duplex Stainless Steel
No full textCorrelative Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) and Scanning Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (SKPFM) analysis has been carried out to characterise microstructure development and associated corrosion behaviour of as-received and 750°C heat-treated grade 2205 duplex stainless steel. High-resolution EBSD analysis revealed the presence of σ- and χ-phase, secondary austenite, Cr2N, and CrN after ageing treatment. SKPFM Volta potential measurements confirmed the formation of discrete reactive sites, indicating local corrosion propensity in the microstructure. Cr2N, σ-phase, and inter-granular χ-phase had net cathodic activity, with CrN and intra-granular χ-phase showing net anodic activity. Corrosion screening confirmed selective corrosion of ferrite in the as-received and 750°C aged conditions with the corrosion propensity of secondary phases in-line with SKPFM observations. Stress corrosion micro-cracks were also observed and are discussed in the light of microstructure corrosion propensity
Managing Subdural Bleeding Associated With Rivaroxaban: A Series of 3 Cases.
No full textOBJECTIVE: To report 3 cases of subdural bleeding associated with rivaroxaban managed by 3-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC3). CASE SUMMARIES: Case 1 presented with a 1-cm thick subdural hematoma (SDH) 12 hours after her last dose of rivaroxaban. Case 2 presented with a right 1-cm acute right SDH with 2 to 3 mm of midline shift 24 hours after his last dose of rivaroxaban. Case 3 presented with a 1.8-cm thick right cerebral convexity hematoma 12 hours after her last dose of rivaroxaban. All patients received 23 to 35 units/kg PCC3 with 1 to 3 units of fresh frozen plasm (FFP) and demonstrated no progression in lesions measured by repeat computed tomography (CT). Two patients were discharged to rehabilitation facilities and 1 patient ultimately died due to the location of the lesion. DISCUSSION: Rivaroxaban has no specific antidote. Current bleeding management strategies are based on expert opinion. The risks and benefits for differing strategies are unclear, and no clinical experience has been reported to date. These cases begin to illuminate differences among choices for managing bleeding associated with Xa inhibitors. CONCLUSION: In this case series, 25 to 35 units/kilogram PCC3 and FFP 1 to 3 units ceased rivaroxaban-associated bleeding without thrombogenic complications
Spatial distributions of local illumination color in natural scenes
No full textIn natural complex environments, the elevation of the sun and the presence of occluding objects and mutual reflections cause variations in the spectral composition of the local illumination across time and location. Unlike the changes in time and their consequences for color appearance and constancy, the spatial variations of local illumination color in natural scenes have received relatively little attention. The aim of the present work was to characterize these spatial variations by spectral imaging. Hyperspectral radiance images were obtained from 30 rural and urban scenes in which neutral probe spheres were embedded. The spectra of the local illumination at 17 sample points on each sphere in each scene were extracted and a total of 1904 chromaticity coordinates and correlated color temperatures (CCTs) derived. Maximum differences in chromaticities over spheres and over scenes were similar. When data were pooled over scenes, CCTs ranged from 3000 K to 20,000 K, a variation of the same order of magnitude as that occurring over the day. Any mechanisms that underlie stable surface color perception in natural scenes need to accommodate these large spatial variations in local illumination color