The purpose of the present report is to identify the most prestigious universities of the world and their spatial distribution, basing on the available rankings of universities and the databases, concerning science. The analyses encompass the identification of the ten best universities and the regional differentiation as regards one hundred highest ranked universities. Three most popular rankings were made use of (Academic Ranking of World Universities, Times Higher Education, QS World University Rankings), along with the Thomson Reuters database on the most cited scientists and the Nobel Prize database. Apart from the general classification of the university units, the analyses include their assessment according to the domains of science and the indicators, adopted in the methodologies of the particular rankings.\nAll of the rankings analysed imply that the most prestigious schools are concentrated in the English-speaking countries. In each of the classifications considered the universities from these countries occupy the highest positions and they dominate also in terms of numbers. Thus, among one hundred universities with highest scores roughly half come from the two countries mentioned. The leading group of the world universities is composed of the American and British schools.
The article studies the methodology of environmental impacts assessment of environmentally hazardous facilities and activities. We observe the stages of evaluation of environmental impacts, proposing an algorithm and technological decision-making steps in the environmental impact assessments system that are based on multi utility theory (MUT).\nBased on our experience, the appropriate way to use EIA methods of building such models is to establish as input a multicriteria utility theory approach, with an analytic hierarchy for multi ranking of alternatives and decision making under uncertainty. With a large number of alternatives and criteria experts sometimes it can be rather difficult to navigate and make the best decision, so through our theory we can bring all the alternatives to the same scale so that the best decision becomes the obvious one. The proposed methodology for decision making is intended primarily to compare alternatives and choose the best of them. The best option for a solutions for this problem will be the one which achieved a compromise between the prevailing criteria in terms of experts, or people who make decisions.
A bacterial consortium collected from the fuel line of a military aircraft was investigated to evaluate the corrosion behavior\nof the aluminum alloy 7075 in sterile minimal salt medium (MSM). The isolation and characterization of the consortia by\nDNA sequencing showed that the consortium was mainly composed of seven bacteria. Electrochemical results revealed that\nthe corrosion rate was not influenced in sterile and inoculated media. In particular, a corrosive behavior was determined in\npresence of a bacterium, which has a close affiliation to Pseudomonas Stuzeri strain. SEM examinations and EDX analysis\nof metallic samples exposure in inoculated media revealed local corrosion.
Clustering is a very natural way for humans to discover inherent patterns. It has been very well studied in several disciplines since the ancient times. In recent times, distributed clustering has become important with regard to distributed data mining research. Distributed clustering assumes that the objects to be clustered reside on different sites. The Rough K-means algorithm is one of the variants of K-means algorithm using rough set theory to deal with uncertainty involved in cluster analysis. This paper proposes two ensemble based distributed rough clustering algorithms namely, Distributed Rough K-Means (DRKM) algorithm and Improved Distributed Combining algorithm based on RKM to produce rough clusters among homogeneously distributed datasets. Their performance is evaluated against traditional centralized clustering approach. The experiments are carried out for various datasets of UCI machine learning data repository.
The paper considers the creation of a composite matrix based on galactomannan and methylcellulose in various proportions with the use of several types of plasticizers. Galactomannan was extracted from the carob beans (Ceratonia siliqua).\nMatrices were characterized in terms of moisture content, water solubility, biodegradability, elongation-at break (EB), tensile strength (TS) and surface morphology. The results showed that matrices properties vary according to the plasticizer used and galactomannan / methylcellulose ratio. The obtained materials indicate the possibility of their usage as a matrix for the immobilization of different biologically active substances. Thus, the use of methylcellulose and galactomannan in the creation of composite film matrices with predetermined properties opens up new vistas.
Characterization of Konya-Bozkir clays in the Central Taurides were carried out and the clay minerals observed in the building stones and their effects were evaluated. The clay samples taken from Bozkir area located to the southeast of the city of Konya were investigated employing the spectroscopic methods. The clay samples taken from studied area that were chemical analyzed with XRF (X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry) and ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry) techniques. The FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectra of the standard clay minerals-“The World Source Clay Minerals” such as illite, illite-smectite mixed layer, montmorillonite, Ca-montmorillonite, Na-montmorillonite, kaolinite, chlorite (ripidolite), palygorskite were first taken, and then the spectra of anhydrite, gypsum, illite+quartz+feldspar, quartz+feldspar were taken together with the standard clays. The minerals included in the samples taken from the study area were identified by comparing their FTIR spectra with those of the standard clay minerals and XRD (X-ray powder diffraction) results. It was found that the clay samples include illite, illite-smectite mixed layer, kaolinite, calcite, feldspar, quartz and they have T-O-T (Tetrahedral-Octahedral-Tetrahedral) structure. Clays constitute the majority of the presence mineral that occur as the alteration product of building stones. The carbonate rocks using in various constructions are mainly composed of calcite. Dolomite, silica and clay minerals of alteration product accompany with this mineral. The clay type and their characteristics that cause the decrease of life of the buildings are first examineted and than visual front spoil have been discussed. In the regional scale, the common usage of the carbonate stones containing clay such as marl in the building stones of Konya-Bozkir increases the front spoil indensity in visual.\nKeywords: Clay, FTIR, illite, smectite, building stones, Central Taurides
There are no uniformly accepted chlamydia screening practices, with the majority being opportunistic in Europe. Current study illustrates tight correlation between registered cases of genital chlamydial infection per 100 000 populations with number of laboratory tests per 100 ambulatory visits into different regions of Latvia – Riga, Pieriga, Kurzeme, Zemgale, Vidzeme, and Latgale in 2011 (r=0,91, p=0,01), 2012 (r=0,81, p=0,05), 2013 (r=0,89, p=0,02), and 2014 (r=0,88, p=0,02). Many chlamydia cases are asymptomatic therefore the expansion of chlamydia screening program can lead to increase of different laboratory tests per ambulatory visit. This can lead to unpredictable increasing of health care’s expenditures. The cost-effectiveness of chlamydia screening programmes might be consider as controversial.
This article will show a fundamental method to obtain the most general form of the probability function of the sum of discrete uniform distributions. There are several forms of the probability function of the sum of discrete uniform distributions are given, but the most general form of the probability is not obtained yet. The procedure involving discrete Laplace transformation, discrete convolution formula and Cauchy product will be used to derive the most general form of the probability distribution function of the sum of discrete uniform distributions.
Novel study to focus on actual experimental results for cancer percentage disease between India and Denmark countries to initiate a new idea to make a comparison between all effects of cancer disease to reach to very important factor and this factor is food quality from olive, onion, lemon, garlic, ginger, flavor, tomato and meat to produce a new mathematical model with a new idea that represents this disease as a chemical reaction passes in five phases each phase has it is own properties to make optimization by using SQP method to reach to the optimum concentration of food to reduce cancer percentage more than 97% and improve all these results theoretically.
This article presents the results of studies of the effect of number of passes while pressing workpieces in the cross shaped tool on the stress-strain state and introduces the parameters of the microstructure of the pressed workpiece made of D16 aluminum alloy. A comparative evaluation of the size of grains of ultrafine structures after pressing the workpieces in the cross shaped tool with various stages of deformation at temperature of 350 °C is provided. The characteristic parameters of grain and defect structure are presented. It is shown that the blank of D16 aluminum alloy ensures uniform formation of an ultrafine grain structure with a size of grain of about 600 - 900 nm, which results an improved strength properties of the alloy and preserves good ductility.
Negative differential switching phenomena are presented in metal-insulator-p-n thyristor structure with a GaAs native oxide, where the thin insulator is grown at low temperature by a chemical liquid phase oxide (CLPO) with a thickness from 10 to 20nm range. A significant S-shaped negative differential resistance (NDR) is shown to occur that originates from the regenerative feedback in a tunnel metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) interface and p-n junction. The tunneling electrons in the conduction band are dominated by the thin oxide while the p-n juction supplies the hole accumulation in the valence band. This device is also photo-sensitive to act as an optical switch and its optical control efficiency is about 0.08V/uW. The influence of oxide thickness and optical input power on the switching characteristics are investigated. The switching voltages are found to be decreased when decreasing the oxide thickness and increasing the optical input power while the holding voltages are almost kept constant even the thyristor exposes under the light.
The present study was designed to investigate the capability of Anabaena cicinalis, Chlorella sp., Oscillatoria subbrevis, and mixed algae in wastewater treatment. A series of experiments were conducted in a batch flow reactor to evaluate the effect of algal treatment system onto wastewater quality (NO3, PO4, COD, Chromium, Cadmium, Lead, Calcium and Magnesium). The results showed that, mixed algae has maximum efficiencies for NO3, PO4, COD, Ca, and Pb2+ where the removal was found to be 74.09%, 97.78%, 86.42%, 75.57%, and 98.75%, respectively, while unialgal culture had less removal efficiency compared to mixed culture where Anabaena cicinalis has the largest removal capability than Chlorella Sp. and Oscillatoria subbrevis respectively.
From a systemic point of view, the soil is a living subsystem of Terra, which pulsates continually, being “the heart of the terrestrial ecosystems”, absolutely indispensible for life and a determining factor for its quality.\nThe purpose of this research is to decipher the manner in which a type of soil, made up of soil and oil residue, evolves in an area with temperate climate. Knowing the manner in which residual pollutants interact with the soil, at different depths, and their aggregation manner, are new coordinates in getting to know the evolutionary processes of a regenerating polluted soil.\nThe conclusions of the research show that using the soils in economy, under various forms, brings about changes in their native rhythms, reflected in their evolution and structure. In the case of the studied soils, their pedogeographical assemblage, a special arrangement and internal organization, are ever more intensely differentiated. The rhythms thus generated show that not only soil entities are involved, but also environmental conditions. Based on these arguments, we consider that the protection of the soil resources needs to be based on an integrated approach, which implies measures regarding both the soil and the conditions under which the soil “lives”.
The paper investigates the existence of long-memory in three major African Stock market returns using the daily returns of Stock Exchange of Mauritius, Morocco Stock Market (MASI) and Nigerian Stock Exchange, spanning the period from 1/03/2002 to 4/12/2015. We employ the Rescaled Range Statistics (R/S), Geweke and Porter-Hudak (GPH) Model and Gaussian Semi Parametric (GSP) Method in order to test for long memory. These tests show that all three stock returns have long memory effect and, thus, we use Fractionally Integrated Autoregressive Moving Average Model (ARFIMA) and the Fractionally Integrated Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (FIGARCH) model to detect the long memory process in returns.
Lennert lymphoma is not a familiar term for otolaryngologist, whereas it is characteristic of frequent involvement of head and neck region. This rare entity of peripheral T cell lymphoma not only lacks firm diagnostic criteria, but needs to be established novel treatment approaches with better outcomes. This present case describes a 32 – year – old male had multiple lumps on the neck and a nasopharyngeal tumor. At first, this patient was treated as nontuberculous mycobacteria infection, according to the culture result. After performing immunohistochemical stains, Lennert lymphoma with concurrent nontuberculous mycobacteria infection was found. To a certain extent, patients of Lennert lymphoma are immunocompromised and easily infected by weak pathogens.
Purpose: Cataract is the major cause of blindness and is associated with oxidative damage of the lens. In the present study, the aim was to evaluate the protective effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on sodium selenite-induced cataractogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rat pups.\nMethods: Eight-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomly divided into four treatment groups: (1) normal control (vehicle administration); (2) sodium selenite-treated; (3) sodium selenite + 100 mg/kg body weight EGCG; and (4) sodium selenite + 200 mg/kg body weight EGCG. Cataract was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite (2.46 mg/kg body weight) on postpartum day 10. Treatment groups received EGCG intraperitoneally from the 9th day upto the 14th day. On postpartum day 24, rat pups were examined for cataract formation and the lenses were isolated for further analysis of oxidative damage.\nResults: Sodium selenite caused significant (p < 0.05) cataract formation, a reduction of the activities of SOD, catalase, and GSH level, and an increase of protein carbonyls level compared with the normal control group. In contrast, treatment with EGCG could significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorate cataract formation and oxidative damage in the lens. Moreover, EGCG administration significantly increased the GSH level and the activities of SOD and catalase, and declined the protein carbonyls in the lens when compared with the sodium selenite group.\nConclusions: Taken together, EGCG administrations demonstrate effective protective effects on sodium selenite-induced cataract and oxidative injury in mice.
Plants synthesize distinct phytochemical compounds able to substitute synthetic biocides of difficult degradation; from this point of view, the extracts, essential oils and botanical origin compounds of some species, among them Piper genus, have been put forwarded as natural biocides, thanks to secondary metabolites presence which show different biological activity. It is true that there are about 1500 taxa described for Piper genus. However, less than one hundred have been studied concerning to their bioactivity. In this sense, the present research has as an objective to carry out a bibliographical review about the Piper’s genus biocide potential. In this review, 50 taxa were found where biocide activity has been evaluated about some noxious organisms as plants, animals as humans; some of them considered plagues like Spodoptera frugiperda and S. exigua, others catalogued as disease vectors as Aedes Aegypti, human and animal parasites such as; Entamoeba hystolitica, Schistosoma mansoni and Trypanosoma evans, of economic importance like Melodoigyne incognita and Fusarium oxysporum and even pathogenic microorganisms of medical importance such as; Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis
The Wiener index of a graph, also known as the “sum of distances” of a connected graph, is the first topological index to be used in chemistry. Wiener index is the sum of the distances between all unordered pairs of vertices of a graph. Hyper-Wiener index is one of the distance-based graph invariants used as a structure-descriptor for predicting physicochemical properties of organic compounds. In this paper, we use lines of unit cells of the body-centered cubic grid. Thus, the grids used here have center points of the unit cells and other vertices, called border vertices. Closed formula are obtained to calculate the sum of shortest distances between pairs of border vertices, between border vertices and centers and between pairs of centers. Based on these formula, their sum, the Wiener index together with hyper-Wiener index of body-centered cubic grid with unit cells connected in a row graph is computed. Some relations between our formula and integer sequences are also presented.
Objective: to investigate physical and chemical structures and properties including calorific value of human adipose tissue of different anatomical location.\nMethods: A pilot physical and chemical descriptive randomized experimental trial. Adipose tissue 252 sampled from 36 individuals at autopsy who between 36-63 years old died from road accidents. Interventions: Chemical compounds and calorific value were studied using an infrared and atomic adsorptive spectrometries, elemental chemical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Adipose tissue was sampled from the 7 various anatomical locations.\nResults: The highest levels of the analysed chemical substuncies found in dense atherosclerotic plaque (AP). The AP contains the most of metabolic products, organic and inorganic elements (P < 0.05). The dense AP has the most of calorific value (P < 0.02). The lowest calorific capacity has a pararenal fat.\nConclusions: Human body lipids serve as a harbor for various organic substances, and they have different calorific capacity depending on their location. APs contain the most of organic and inorganic elements, and bring the highest energy potential. Perhaps, if the body does not use own adipose tissue for some time, then the fats can transform into a more compact, but energy rich lipids.
Organ procurement from prisoners faces international condemnation, even in the context of urgent organ shortages for clinical transplantation. China stopped using the organs of executed prisoners for transplantation as of January 1, 2015, consistent with the human rights standards of most countries and organizations throughout the world. However, the authors propose that based on legal and ethical considerations, there is no reason to refrain from transplanting the organs of prisoners after death, if the organ donation is voluntary, with informed consent. Prisoners (including executed prisoners) in the organ procurement process would provide another possible source，although it cannot solve the shortage of organs available for transplants. In addition, excluding prisoners from the right of choice to become an organ donor is a violation of their human rights to decision. Thus, after death, prisoners (including executed prisoners) could be a source of organ procurement. Related rules and procedures should focus on how to guarantee an appropriate organ donation decision, with specific protections for prisoners during the process of procurement through legal, policy and strict procedures provided by the government.
Aim: This study was designed to examine drinking water sources at Taif province regarding bacterial and parasitic pollutants as well as assessment of minerals content and some heavy metals. \nMethods and results: In total, 150 samples from household water tanks (90), bottles (30) and wells (30) were collected from different locations in and around Taif from November (2015) to April (2016). Bacteriologically, 10% of cistern and 20% of wells samples failed to meet the standards of WHO and SASO as total coliforms (Presumptive test, Oxoid) were detected with MPN mean 279.8 and 50 respectively. 4 samples (4.44%) of cistern water tested positive for E.coli (confirmatory test and API20). Fecal streptococci were detected in 3 (10%) of wells samples (Difco). Pseudomanas aeruginosa tested negative in cistern and wells samples but was isolated from 5 (16.66%) (Dilution plate from Oxoid and API, Biomuirix) of bottled water (2 with acceptable CFU/ml of 10-15 and 3 unsatisfactory with a mean of 30 CFU/ml sample). Parasitological examination revealed that both cistern and bottled water samples were free of contamination. Giardia lambilia was isolated from 4 (13.3%) and 12 (40%) of wells samples by iodine staining and immunofluorescence respectively with significant difference between methods (P=0.018). Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 15/30 (50%) samples by Modified Zeihl Neelsen stain. Parasitic contamination recorded seasonal variations along the study duration. In all the studied samples, heavy metals and toxic elements were under the detection level of ICP-OES. Mineral elements were similar in samples of same category with few exceptions. Regarding the concentration value of mineral elements in bottled water, the results revealed that it was lower than the international regulations records while in wells water it was variable from sample to sample and almost higher than cisterns and bottles water which is attributed to the nature of soil in Taif region \nConclusion: Our results could help health authorities consider a proper regular monitoring program for hygienic household water storage facilities, a sustainable continuous assessment of the quality of well water and stringent self-control by some producers of mineral water.
Objects: To investigate the effects of horizontal acceleration and irregular vibration on the human visual acuity during short time and the refractive changes after one year. \nMethods: In two studies, only all the right eyes of the subjects were enrolled. In experiment 1, we tried to discover the influence of horizontal acceleration. All the 20 subjects’ vision who aged 18.6 ± 2.5 years revealed 20/20 on the ground.(static vision) Then, we created forces from two different types ( > or < 0.1G) and two directions (X- or Y- axis) by special machine. When the volunteer stood on accelerating platform, the dynamic vision was checked again. In experiment 2, total 60 students were enrolled (mean age 11.3 ± 0.8 years). The mean refraction was - 0.50 D (dipoter). The retrospective charts were reviewed from Jan 2012 to Jan 2013. According to the ways to school, subjects were divided into 3 groups including group 1 (walking), group 2 (by buses or cars) and group 3 (by Rapid Transit System). In experiment 1, the differences between static and dynamic vision was analyzed. We compared the myopia changes between three groups after one year.\nResults: In experiment 1, bare vision of all subjects all revealed 20/20 on the floor. Acceleration < 0.1 G in the X- or Y- axis, did not affect static and dynamic vision. The mean vision decreased from 0.02 log MAR to 0.25 log MAR. When Gx > 0.1G Visual acuity worsened (mean from 0.02 log MAR to 0.19 log MAR when Gy > 0.1G In experiment 2, Besides, the children reading books on the moving vehicles in group 2 and 3 may be found myopic shift, even to - 2.00 diopter in group 3 after one year. most of the subjects complained about discomfort in reading.\nConclusion: The results indicated horizontal acceleration may result in the unstable body and the vision should become worse during acceleration. Besides, the children reading books on moving vehicles in group 2 and 3 may be found the myopic change after one year. The unstable position from horizontal accelerating vehicles indeed plays an important role in myopic changes and mild blurred vision. Hence, proper eye-sight protection during various moving vehicles may relieve ocular fatigue and retard the myopic progression.
The purpose of this work is to derive the criteria of the saddle point type for a generalized form of multi-objective programming problems in complex space. The entries of the objective function are taken with their real and imaginary parts. We shall develop these criteria with/without differentiability assumptions imposed in the involved functions. It will be shown that the efficient solutions can be characterized in terms of saddle points whether the functions are differentiable or not. The results will be natural generalizations of their correspondents in real space and complete the current results in complex space.
Lightweight cryptography is the emerging trend in current era. A-S Algorithm is a lightweight symmetric software oriented stream cipher which is suitable for any type of file. A-S Algorithm is developed to satisfy the need of a universal cryptographic algorithm which can be used by all kind of files. Even though plenty of encryption schemes are available, this paper proposes a faster and secure encryption scheme which is suitable for lightweight applications. The method is a file to file encryption scheme that satisfies Profile 1 of ECRYPT. It is suitable for encrypting shorter as well as for longer files. It accommodates two input files which are symmetric key file and message file. Both files can be of any format opted by the user. The key file ensures 256-bit security for each character in the message file. The security level of the proposed approach is very high because, no pre-computed table or substitution table is present for this algorithm. The hacker will not be able to even identify which type of file is encrypted and what type of key file is used. So breaking the encrypted file becomes impossible in effect. The proposed symmetric encryption scheme is robust and faster than the traditional lightweight methods.
The purpose of this study is to develop PBL (Problem Based Learning) model for enhancing creativity and character of college students, and suggest the educational method and instructional strategies in order to use the model in the educational field. For this, this research explored the characteristics and elements of creativity and character education and PBL, and find out the essential value and ideas of the model. And the model was applied in to the course, for a semester and the effectiveness of the model and the learners’ awareness on the participation, satisfaction, team collaboration and creative problem solving was found. As the result, the expected educational effectiveness of PBL model for enhancing creativity and character is like the following. First, this study will help instructors understand the core elements of creativity and character and show the way to develop creativity and character in University and the educational field. Secondly, this study will show the process of creativity and character education model and suggest specific method and strategies for making good relationship with people in a real life as it presents the learning outcome that is required for the proof of the learning result and the evaluation standard. Thirdly, this study will suggest the specific teaching strategies that enhance not only for the individuals creativity and character but also for the community creativity, character, responsibility and practicing ability. And it presents specific instructional strategies that lead to serve and devote in the community.
Schistosomiasis is a worldwide snail-born trematode infection of domestic and wild animals as well as of man. In the year 2013, a total of 1800 fecal samples from buffaloes were collected on random basis from the all tehsils of Bahawalpur district from February 2013 to October 2013. About 248 (13.8%) were found to be positive with S. bovis (11.5%) and S. japonicum (2.3%). Highest prevalence was recorded in Yazman (18.9%) followed by Bahawalpur (14.4%), Khairpur (13.3%), Hasilpur (12.2%) and the lowest was recorded in Ahmedpur (10%). Monthly overall highest prevalence was recorded in September (29%), while the lowest was found in the month of May (2.5%). Statically chi-square showed a significant (p<0.05) difference between all areas and months. Overall highest seasonal wise prevalence was fouxnd in autumn (26.5%) which was highly significant (p<0.05), followed by a non significant (p>0.05) difference in winter (16%), summer (10%) as compare to spring (7.5%). In overall age wise prevalence the adult buffaloes were found to be highly (16.5%) susceptible than young ones (7%). Overall gender wise prevalence was higher in females (14.8%) than males (10%). Statistically a significant difference (p<0.05) was found between all age and gender groups.
Objectives: To assess whether triphasic spiral computerized tomography (CT) enables characterization of a wide range of liver lesions.\nMaterials and Methods: 39 patients with liver disease underwent triphasic liver (CT). After injection of contrast material, the liver was scanned in arterial, portal and equilibrium phases. Enhancement of each lesion in each phase was evaluated, and the lesions were tabulated according to enhancement patterns.\nResults: In 39 patients, 38 liver lesions were detected. The nature of the lesion was classified as homogeneous ,heterogeneous or iso signal intensity . Liver disease were: hepatic infiltration, Benign disease were hemangiomas, cysts, hydated cyst or abscesses, where malignant were Hepato Cellular Carcinoma(HCC), metastases .16(43.2%) of the enhancement pattern appears homogenous and considered benign (Haemangiomas) cysts and abscesses in the non contrast images where21(56.8%)as heterogeneous (metastases and HCC) with no significant correlation was detected with the disease type and enhancement pattern P ?0.105.26(68.4%) of 38 enhancement patterns were heterogeneous as malignant disease and 12( 31.6%) in the arterial phase with significant correlation between the lesion pattern and diagnosis at P ?0.059.The Venous phase showed highly significant relation between the lesions pattern as heterogeneous in the malignant lesions (27(71.1%) and Homogeneous 11(28.9%) P ?0.031.24(63.2%) of the 39 cases showed heterogeneous pattern in the equilibrium phase that showed significant relation at P ?0.038 .These patterns were seen in metastases and Hepato cellular Carcinoma(HCC).\nConclusion: Triphasic liver CT enables characterization of a wide range of hepatic infiltration, focal liver lesions, including the benign and malignant lesions as well as metastases that occur most frequently.
Introduction: Aortic valve replacement is a class I indication for surgery for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis or regurgitation.The aim of this study was to investigate the operative mortality (either isolated, or concomitant with other surgical procedures), and mid-term outcomes (up to eight years) of aortic valve replacement .\n\n Materials and Methods: Ninety nine consecutive patients who underwent AVR were retorospectively evaluated, and parameters regarding to early and late morbidity/mortality were analyzed.\nResults: Rheumatic valvular disease was the most common etiology for valvular lesions (61%) requiring AVR. Operative mortality was encountered in two patients (2%). Complications recorded during the follow-up study included: prosthetic valve endocarditis (3%), major bleeding (1%), stroke (3%), and reoperation (1%). Neither any structural valvular dysfunctions, nor any valvular thromboses were detected. \nConclusions: Due to the geographic region of the present study, rheumatic valvular disease was the most common etiology for valvular lesions (61%). AVR may be performed with low morbidity, mortality, and with a low rate of thromboembolic episodes.
