EPMA: 20th birthday in turbulent times

Abstract

The subject and history of the industry are briefly described. The market for soft and hard ferrites is then discussed in terms of size and major applications. Some likely developments in the next 10 years are mentioned. Production methods for components for the major applications are outlined and possible changes considered. PM/0251     

Outcomes measurement in today''s health care environment

The effects of smoking habits on thyroid function, echo-texture (nodules and/or cysts) and thyroid gland volume were determined by using ultrasound and measuring serum Thyroxin (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyrotropin (TSH) and TPO antibodies (ab-TPO) in 189 healthy smokers and non-smokers, randomly selected (111 females and 78 males) among the employees of our hospital and their relatives. When the entire group of subjects was considered the mean ratio of thyroid gland volume/body weight was found to be significantly higher in male (P < 0.05) and female (P < 0.05) smokers compared with non-smokers. In female smokers, mean serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was lower (P < 0.05) and the degree of smoking was positively correlated with the ratio of thyroid gland volume/body weight (P < 0.05). However, when the subjects with a family history of goitre in first degree relatives were excluded from our study (14 females and 9 males), no significant differences in mean ratio of thyroid volume/weight or TSH between the remaining smokers and non-smokers were detected. In both sexes, the correlation between the degree of smoking and thyroid volume, although positive, did not reach statistical significance. No difference in prevalence of abnormal echogenicity and echo-texture (nodules and cysts) between smokers and non-smokers was detected. It is concluded that smoking habits present a goitrogenic effect only in subjects with a family history of goitre but have no influence on thyroid gland texture.     

President''s message. Continuous learning: key to thriving in turbulent times

A self-organizing tree growing neural network was applied to classify amino acids and amino acid exchange matrices. AVAILABILITY: SOTA, is freely available by anonymous FTP or at http://www.cnb.uam.es/bioinfo/Software/so ta. CONTACT: carazo@cnb.uam.es     

Operating in turbulent times: how Ontario's hospitals are meeting the current funding crisis

With the escalation of the cost of providing health care in Ontario, politicians have begun to attempt to stay the increase by curtailing hospital funding. This article reports on an interview survey of 15 randomly chosen Ontario hospitals that are attempting to cope in the current funding cutbacks. Overall, we found our sample hospitals to be an innovative group on the whole, which were willing to try out new ideas and adapt to the changing environment while protecting quality of patient care.     

车联网迎来新机遇

近来面对国内大中城市频繁出现的"暴堵","十二五"交通规划或将在年初推出. 改革开放20多年来,我国经济持续快地速发展,城市化、现代化的进程不断加快,很多城市的机动车保有量以年平均20%的速度飙长,导致了目前国内交通供求关系的严重失衡,交通拥挤、交通事故增多、环境日益恶化已经成为我国城市面临的严重问题.     

Networking for action on sustainability and health

We report a case of recurrent transudative pleural effusion. The initial cardiovascular investigations failed to determine its cause. The catheterization showed a "dip-plateau" suggesting a restrictive cardiomyopathy. Endomyocardial biopsy finally proved a cardiac amyloidosis.     

浅谈点到点链路的OSPF区域组网

OSPF路由协议作为被广泛应用的内部网关协议之一,用于在单一自治系统内决策路由.本文通过Packet Tracer V5.3模拟软件对常见的点到点链路的OSPF区域组网进行讨论,以了解各种区域组网的模型和配置.     

基于PROFIBUS的快锻机组网络系统

杜亚宁（1973-），女，助理工程师，主要从事设备的自动化控制技术及相关管理工作，电话：029-86514525，E-Mail：dyn@c-wst.com