Cure de hernie inguinale en ambulatoire [Outpatient hernia surgery].

Inguinal hernias are frequent and have an enormous socio-economic impact. Surgical treatment is indicated in most of the patients to relieve symptoms and to prevent complications. Modem treatment should focus on low complication and recurrence rates, short recovery times, and--last but not least acceptable costs. Inguinal hernia repair can be carried out by an open or minimal invasive approach. Surgery is traditionally performed under general anesthesia, but local or locoregional anesthesia are other feasible options. Nowadays, inguinal hernia surgery can easily performed as an outpatient procedure. However, stringent selection criteria, an optimized infrastructure and a close and standardized follow-up are mandatory prerequisites in order to obtain excellent results under secure conditions.

Dos raros incunables en lengua catalana

En este trabajo se ofrece una panorámica de los estimables fondos incunables de La Casa del Libro (San Juan, Puerto Rico) y se analizan los contenidos de dos impresos barceloneses en lengua catalana de temática religiosa: Vida e transit de Sanct Jheronim (1493) y Gamaliel (c. 1493). El examen de ambos ejemplares confirma su importancia, en especial del segimdo, pues se trata de un ejemplar único en el mundo. También se apuntan diversos aspectos de su dilatada trayectoria y se ofrece una hipótesis sobre su origen.

Liiketoimintasovelluksen integraatioratkaisu J2EE:n ja XML:n avulla

Työssä esitellään sovellusintegraation osia ja merkitystä sähköisessä liiketoiminnassa sekä toteutetaan toiminnanohjausjärjestelmän tietoja yrityksen asiakkaalle välittävä palvelu. Yritykset yhdistävät järjestelmänsä asiakkaiden ja liiketoimintakumppanien kanssa integroimalla. Työn teoriaosassa määritellään verkkoliiketoiminta, integraatioratkaisun osa-alueet ja integroinnin merkitys yrityksen kannalta sekä esitellään integrointiin käytettäviä perusteknologioita. Soveltavassa osassa toteutetaan paperiteollisuusyrityksen tilaus- ja toimitustietoja XML:n avulla lähettävä Java-pohjainen järjestelmä. Työssä tarkastellaan integraation merkitystä perusteknologian yrityksille ja integraation käytännön toteutusta. Tarkastelun tuloksena todetaan, että liiketoimintajärjestelmien integrointi on välttämätöntä yritysten kannattavuuden ja tehokkuuden kannalta. Integraatioprosessi on monimutkainen, joten sen toteutus vaatii tarkkaa suunnittelua, hallintaa ja aikaa.

Patterns of variability of retinol levels in a harbour porpoise population from an unpolluted environment

Organochlorine compounds (OC) are known to induce vitamin A (retinoids) deficiency in mammals, which may be associated with impairment of immunocompetence, reproduction and growth. This makes retinoids a potentially useful biomarker of organochlorine impact on marine mammals. However, use of retinoids as a biomarker requires knowledge about its intrapopulation patterns of variation in natural conditions, information which is not currently available. We investigated these patterns in a cetacean population living in an unpolluted environment. 100 harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena from West Greenland were sampled during the 1995 hunting season. Sex, age, morphometrics, nutritive condition, and retinol (following saponification) and OC levels in blubber were determined for each individual. OC levels found were extremely low and therefore considered unlikely to affect the population adversely: mean blubber concentrations, expressed on an extractable basis, were 2.04 (SD = 1.1) ppm for PCBs and 2.76 (SD = 1.66) ppm for tDDT. The mean blubber retinol concentration for the overall population was 59.66 (SD = 45.26) mu g g(-1). Taking into account the high contribution of blubber to body mass, blubber constitutes a significant body site for retinoid deposition in harbour porpoises. Retinol concentrations did not differ significantly between geographical regions or sexes, but they did correlate significantly (p <0.001) with age. Body condition, measured by determining the lipid content of the blubber, did not have a significant effect on retinol levels but the individuals examined were considered to be in an overall good nutritive condition. It is concluded that measurement of retinol concentrations in blubber samples is feasible and has a potential for use as a biomarker of organochlorine exposure in cetaceans. However, in order to do so, biological information, particularly age, is critical for the correct assessment of physiological impact

Uncertainties in 4pi-gamma coincidence counting

The 4πβ-γ coincidence counting method and its close relatives are widely used for the primary standardization of radioactivity. Both the general formalism and specific implementation of these methods have been well-documented. In particular, previous papers contain the extrapolation equations used for various decay schemes, methods for determining model parameters and, in some cases, tabulated uncertainty budgets. Two things often lacking from experimental reports are both the rationale for estimating uncertainties in a specific way and the details of exactly how a specific component of uncertainty was estimated. Furthermore, correlations among the components of uncertainty are rarely mentioned. To fill in these gaps, the present article shares the best-practices from a few practitioners of this craft. We explain and demonstrate with examples of how these approaches can be used to estimate the uncertainty of the reported massic activity. We describe uncertainties due to measurement variability, extrapolation functions, dead-time and resolving-time effects, gravimetric links, and nuclear and atomic data. Most importantly, a thorough understanding of the measurement system and its response to the decay under study can be used to derive a robust estimate of the measurement uncertainty.

Gibberellic acid signaling is required for ambient temperature-mediated induction of flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Distinct molecular mechanisms integrate changes in ambient temperature into the genetic pathways that govern flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana. Temperature-dependent eviction of the histone variant H2A.Z from nucleosomes has been suggested to facilitate the expression of FT by PIF4 at elevated ambient temperatures. Here we show that, in addition to PIF4, PIF3 and PIF5, but not PIF1 and PIF6, can promote flowering when expressed specifically in phloem companion cells (PCC), where they can induce FT and its close paralog, TSF. However, despite their strong potential to promote flowering, genetic analyses suggest that the PIF genes seem to have only a minor role in adjusting flowering in response to photoperiod or high ambient temperature. In addition, loss of PIF function only partially suppressed the early flowering phenotype and FT expression of the arp6 mutant, which is defective in H2A.Z deposition. In contrast, the chemical inhibition of gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis resulted in a strong attenuation of early flowering and FT expression in arp6. Furthermore, GA was able to induce flowering at low temperature (15°C) independently of FT, TSF, and the PIF genes, probably directly at the shoot apical meristem. Together, our results suggest that the timing of the floral transition in response to ambient temperature is more complex than previously thought and that GA signaling might play a crucial role in this process.

Bartonella apis sp. nov., a honey bee gut symbiont of the class Alphaproteobacteria.

Here, we report the culture and characterization of an alphaproteobacterium of the order Rhizobiales, isolated from the gut of the honey bee Apis mellifera. Strain PEB0122T shares >95 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with species of the genus Bartonella, a group of mammalian pathogens transmitted by bloodsucking arthropods. Phylogenetic analyses showed that PEB0122T and related strains from the honey bee gut form a sister clade of the genus Bartonella. Optimal growth of strain PEB0122T was obtained on solid media supplemented with defibrinated sheep blood under microaerophilic conditions at 35-37 °C, which is consistent with the cultural characteristics of other species of the genus Bartonella. Reduced growth of strain PEB0122T also occurred under aerobic conditions. The rod-shaped cells of strain PEB0122T had a mean length of 1.2-1.8 μm and revealed hairy surface structures. Strain PEB0122T was positive for catalase, cytochrome c oxidase, urease and nitrate reductase. The fatty acid composition was comparable to those of other species of the genus Bartonella, with palmitic acid (C16 : 0) and isomers of 18- and 19-carbon chains being the most abundant. The genomic DNA G+C content of PEB0122T was determined to be about 45.5 mol%. The high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with species of Bartonella and its close phylogenetic position suggest that strain PEB0122T represents a novel species within the genus Bartonella, for which we propose the name Bartonella apis sp. nov. The type strain is PEB0122T ( = NCIMB 14961T = DSM 29779T).

Individual Perception of Organizational Values

The objective of this master’s thesis was to examine how corporate values come true among the white-collar employees in the case organization. It was also studied if values were perceived similarly in the different departments. Impact of organizational position and education on value orientation was tested through hypotheses based on earlier values research. There are only few value scales available for measuring organizational values. The empirical study results indicate that personnel’s perception of organizational values can be measured statistically. When defining the scale it is utmost important to link the questions and claims close to the employees’ daily working environment. In this study, Work ethic appeared as the strongest organizational value reflecting respondents’ commitment to their duties. Related to corporate values, Performance was perceived as the strongest value and Emphasis on people the weakest. Value consensus between the departments varied. According to the previous research organizational position and educational level has an impact on value perceptions. In this study, employees in superior position or with higher education perceived organizational values to come true better than subordinates or employees with lower education. Empirical data (N=229) was collected by a web-based survey questionnaire among white-collar employees in the case organization in April 2008. Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS programme.

Análise de fluorescência de substâncias húmicas extraídas da água, solo e sedimento da Lagoa dos Patos - MS

The humic substances were extracted from sediments, water and soil close to the Lagoa dos Patos-MS. The characterization was performed through fluorescence emission. In the HSs it is possible to see strong indications of incorporation of compounds originating from lignin degradation, confirmed by fluorescence emission (EEM and synchronous spectra). These differences observed in HSs may be due to tropical regions displaying a great variety of vascular plants and aquatic macrophytes that contribute natural organic matter. The seasonality effect also causes the entrance of pedogenic material and the suspension of sediments by the action of winds.

Hydrozoa e Scyphozoa existentes no instituto paulista de oceanografia

Continuing the inventory of the Coelenterate Fauna of the Brazilian coast, 23 species of Hydrozoa and a Scyphomedusa are recorded from different points of the coast aproximately between 22º and 24º lat. S. Of these, 14 species were already known from other points of the coast and the remaining 10 were unknown from this latitude. Two species are here listed as new, they are: Halocordyle fragHis and Calicella gabriellae. 1. - Halocordyle fragilis, Stechow's (1923) correction of the generic name Pennaria has been followed, shows remarkable distinctive specific characters such as: alternate distribution of the cladii which do not lie all in the same plane, they are inserted at random on the hydrocaulus with a tendency towards a spiral dexiotropic distribution, sparse distribution of the pedicels which are alternate and not all located on the same side of the hydrocladium, and, finally, the long, wiry aspect of the colony which is as brittle as light glass. This characteristics are not sufficient, to my belief, to establish a new genus, since the polyps and the gonophores are entirely of the Halocordyle type, but they confer upon the species a very peculiar habitus. 2. - Calicella gabriellae forms erect hydrocauli which are extremely soft and flexuose, with hydrothecate and intermediate internodes. The thecae are deep, cylindrical, with a conical base, there are 10-12 long and narrow opercular valves. The gonangia are small, conical, with a short distal digitiform process. The included sporosac exhibits maturing ova. Dynamena heteroclonta described by Jarvis (1922) as a new species, is here considered as a new form of the very variable species Dynamena quadridentata. Schizotricha billardi nom. nov., is specifically separated from Sch. diaphana (Heller) to which it had been identified up to know. The Brazilian colonies agree with the French Somaliland specimens described by Billard (1904) and they are reunited in a new species named after the French worker. The main difference, between the two mentioned species are: shape and size of the gonothecae, of the thecae and of the nematophores. A description is given of all the species not previously recorded from the Brazilian coast as well as biological observations on Olindias sambaquiensis whose shoals during winter months are very large and may entangle partially the fishermen's nets. Its feeding and swimming habits are described and the species proves to be an excellent laboratory animal both for class and research purposes, for it easily endures long transportation (even up to 12 hours during summer months) as well as unoxygenized acquaria and nevertheless greadily feeds on any animal food.

Resultados científicos do cruzeiro do "Baependi" e do "Vega" à Ilha da Trindade: o gênero Firoloida, Prosobranchia Heteropoda

From the Jaseur Bank, off the Brazilian coast at 20º 30' S - 35º 50' W, were collected a few specimens of one of the less known species of the Heteropoda: Firoloida lesueuri (d'Orbigny). A detailed anatomical description follows aiming at the elucidation of some obscure points in the litterature on the subject and at showing the identity of most of the previously described "species" of the genus Firoloida. Special care was taken with the study of the nervous system of which most of the descriptions found were discordant. The author arrived at the conclusion that the pleural ganglia are either missing of fused to the cerebral ganglia, that the supraintestinal ganglion (left parietal ganglion) is present in the posterior region and is close to the subintestinal or right parietal ganglion, being both located near the rear end of the body. The innervations are described and discussed as well as the fusion of extensive tracts of the connectives. The present material is shown to be identical to F. kowalewskyi, well described by Vayssière and Tesch; F. desmaresti (Lesueur 1817) is shown to be undistinguishable from F. blainvilleana and F. gracilis. F. aculeata and F. gaimardi are here considered as "nomina nuda". F. liguriae Issel 1907 is admitted as separate species in spite of its insufficient description and, finally, F. vigilans (Troschel 1855), unsatisfactorily described from only one specimen is perhaps a valid species. A table is presented to show the slight differences between the 4 species which are undoubtedly very similar. F. desmaresti is found only in the Atlantic north of the line and a few points south and close to it as well as in dependent seas, while F. lesueuri is common to the south Atlantic, south Indie and south Pacific oceans, extending north only up to the Azores Islands. F. liguriae is from the south western Atlantic. ?F. vigilans would be an endemic species from Messina (Mediterranean).

Physical Realization of an Optical Automatic Target Recognition System

In the modern warfare there is an active development of a new trend connected with a robotic warfare. One of the critical elements of robotics warfare systems is an automatic target recognition system, allowing to recognize objects, based on the data received from sensors. This work considers aspects of optical realization of such a system by means of NIR target scanning at fixed wavelengths. An algorithm was designed, an experimental setup was built and samples of various modern gear and apparel materials were tested. For pattern testing the samples of actively arm engaged armies camouflages were chosen. Tests were performed both in clear atmosphere and in the artificial extremely humid and hot atmosphere to simulate field conditions.

Tilintarkastajan merkitys asiakkaan toiminnan kehittämisessä

Tilintarkastajan merkittävin tehtävä on yleensä varmistaa, että tilinpäätös, toimintakertomus ja päätöksenteossa käytettävät taloudelliset tiedot ovat olennaisilta osiltaan oikein. Tilintarkastukseen liittyy paljon muutakin kuin ainoastaan numeroita. Tilintarkastajien toimintaympäristö on muuttunut voimakkaasti viimeisen kymmenen vuoden aikana. Tilintarkastusala on ollut mukana kehittämässä osaamistaan ja palvelujaan vastatakseen yritysten kasvaviin vaatimuksiin. Yrityksille tarjottavat asiantuntijapalvelut muodostavat nykyisin laajan kirjon erilaisiin vaativiin tarpeisiin kehitettyjä palveluja. Työn tavoitteena on selvittää tilintarkastajan merkitystä asiakkaan toiminnan kehittämiseen. Tavoitteena on selvittää asiaa haastatteluin asiakkaiden eli yritysten näkökulmasta sekä lisäksi täydentää näkökulmaa KHT-tilintarkastajien ajatuksilla. Työssä haastatellaan kahdeksaa yritysjohtajaa ja neljää KHT-tilintarkastajaa. Tilintarkastajan palveluita käytetään, kun halutaan asiantuntevia, luotettavia ja objektiivisia tietoja taloudellisista ja oikeudellisista asioista. Tilintarkastajaa pidetään lähellä yhtiötä olevana keskustelukumppanina, jolta odotetaan aktiivisesti neuvontaa yrityksen kaikilla osa-alueilla.

Kartongin reunaimeytymän hallittavuus

Kuppikartongin yksi tärkeimmistä ominaisuuksista on reunaimeytymän vastustuskyky, joka tulee olla riittävällä tasolla laadun takaamiseksi. Koska yksinkertainen juomakuppi on bulkki¬tuote, ei sen raakareunaa kannata taloudellisuuden vuoksi suojata tätä varten kehitellyillä menetelmillä vaan itse kartongin tulee vastustaa nesteitä riittävässä määrin. Tämän diplomityön tarkoituksena oli selvittää hydrofobointiin käytettävän massaliiman (hartsi) sekä pintaliiman joukkoon annosteltavan lisäaineen välinen optimaalinen suhde parhaan vastustuskyvyn saavuttamiseksi. Lisäksi selvitettiin joidenkin liimapuristimen ajo-olosuhteiden vaikutusta pintaliiman pick-upiin sekä koneen pH-tason oikeellisuus. Jauhatuksen vaikutusta tutkittiin lähinnä historiatietojen avulla. Tutkimus koostui viidestä tehdasmittakaavaisesta koeajosta, joiden avulla selvitettiin muuttujien vaikutus sisäisellä reunaimeytymän määritysmenetelmällä sekä määrittä¬mällä koepisteistä kulloinkin mielenkiinnon kohteena olleet kemikaalipitoisuudet. Viimeisen koeajon koepisteet jalostettiin lisäksi valmiiksi kupeiksi. Käytetty reunaimeytymän määritysmenetelmä osoittautui virhealttiiksi eivätkä raakakartongista tehtyjen määritysten tulokset korreloineet kovinkaan voimakkaasti PE-päällystettyjen näytteiden kanssa. Menetelmän kehitystä on viety eteenpäin tämän työn rinnalla ja työ jatkuu edelleen. Lisäksi kartongin hartsipitoisuusmääritysten tuloksista paljastui ristiriitaisuuksia, joiden vuoksi menetelmää uusittiin voimakkaasti. Reunaimeytymän vastustuksen riittävyydeksi koneella käytettävien massaliima-annosten tulee olla vähintään valitulla nollatasolla kaikissa kerroksissa ja pintaliiman lisäaine tulee pitää käytössä. Mikäli lisäaine jätetään pois käytöstä, tulee massaliima-annokset olla hyvin korkeita, eikä tämäkään takaa täysin reunaimeytymätöntä lopputuotetta. Lisäaineen ollessa käytössä ei suuremmalla massaliima-annoksella ole puolestaan merkittävää vaikutusta. Konetta ajetaan nykyisin hyvin alhaisella pH-tasolla, mutta tason nostaminen aiheuttaa selvän liimauksen heikkenemisen. Liimapuristimelle tulevan radan kosteudella ja pintaliiman kuiva-aineella ei näyttäisi olevan vaikutusta kartongin reunaimeytymän vastustuskykyyn. Myöskään taustakerroksen koivun jauhatusasteella ei ole merkitystä alueella, jolla koneella operoidaan. CTMP-massan jauhatuksen tulee sen sijaan olla riittävä, jotta keskikerrokseen ei synny yksittäisiä, pitkiä imeytymiä.

A Steel Company Entering the Market Area of St. Petersburg

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena on selvittää tarkoituksenmukaisin etabloitumismenetelmä teräsyhtiön kansainvälistymisessä Pietarin markkinoille. Vaikka kansainvälistymistä onkin tutkittu paljon, kyseisen kontekstin erityispiirteisiin on aiemmissa tutkimuksissa kiinnitetty vain vähän huomiota. Kansainvälistymisteorioista työhön valittiin John Dunningin eklektinen paradigma sekä Uppsala-malli. Etabloitumismenetelmän valintaa puolestaan tarkastellaan eri vaihtoehtojen kautta, jotka kattavat viennin, suorat ulkomaan investoinnit, sopimusjärjestelyt sekä yhteisyrityksen. Valintaa selitetään taustalla vaikuttavien tekijöiden sekä kansainvälistymisprosessin kautta. Kohteena olevan markkina-alueen potentiaalin, ongelmien sekä yrityksen kilpailuetujen arvioinnin jälkeen ehdotetaan optimaalista ratkaisua. Omat haasteensa operaatiomuodon valintaan luovat potentiaalinen mutta haastava kohdemarkkina-alue sekä yrityksen sisäiset tekijät. Kontekstiin parhaiten sopivaksi etabloitumismenetelmäksi esitetään aloittamista välittömällä viennillä asiakkaiden etsimiseksi ja suhteiden luomiseksi. Kun asiakkuuksia alueella on riittävästi, myyntikonttorin perustaminen Pietarin lähelle nähdään tarkoituksenmukaisena paikallisen läsnäolon lisäämiseksi. Empiirinen data kattaa kahdeksan asiantuntijahaastattelua, jotka yhdessä muun lähdeaineiston kanssa rakentavat perustan empiirisille tuloksille. Tutkimuksen tulokset tarjoavat yritykselle perustellun ratkaisuehdotuksen siitä, kuinka Pietarin markkinoille tulisi etabloitua.