Lending decisions under uncertainty: a DEA approach

Credit markets have experienced phenomenal growth in the last years, and there is no evidence to expect that this trend will invert in the next decade. Given that, virtually every segment of the industry is called to improve its skills in credit risk management with the threefold aim of managing concentration risk, meeting regulatory requirements and enhancing revenues. Clearly, for financial institutions, exposure to credit risk continues to be the leading source of problems and the challenging issue of managing credit risk is considered a crucial topic. This paper demonstrates the use of a stochastic DEA model for credit scoring which is one of the prevailing analytical technique to evaluate credit risk. Although the principles contained in this paper are most clearly applicable to the business of lending, they can be applied to all activities where credit risk is present.     

Pattern of ivermectin (sheep) and doramectin (cattle) residues in muscular tissue from various anatomical locations

This trial reports comparative drug residual concentrations in muscular tissue obtained from various anatomical locations after subcutaneous administration of ivermectin (IVM) to sheep and topical treatment with doramectin (DRM) to calves at recommended therapeutic dose rates. Seven muscle samples from different anatomical locations (rhomboideus, supraspinatus, semitendinosus, gluteus medius, longissimus dorsi thoracis, intercostales and diaphragma) were collected at several post-treatment sampling times. Samples were frozen at–20°C until analyzed by HPLC. The highest IVM residual concentrations in muscular tissue from the different locations were found at 15 days post-treatment in sheep. Although the highest IVM mean concentrations were measured at 15 (16.8?±?5.17 ng g^?1) and 20 (10.5?±?4.06 ng g^?1) days post-administration in the intercostales muscles, at 30 days post-administration, the IVM concentration in this location was similar to that measured in the rhomboideus and diaphragma muscles. DRM residual concentrations were quantified in muscular tissue from all anatomical locations after topical administration to calves. Maximum residue level was observed at 10 days post-treatment in all anatomical sites. The diaphragma muscle showed the highest DRM residue levels at 2 (22.0?±?4.35 ng g^?1), 5 (45.2?±?3.78 ng g^?1) and 10 (57.9?±?9.57 ng g^?1) days post-treatment in calves. These results demonstrated that the pattern of residue depletion from muscular tissue may differ according to its anatomical locations and/or physiological role. This should be considered in implementing residue control strategies in meat safety assurance for human consumption.     

Effects of sonication on bacteria viability in wastewater treatment plants evaluated by flow cytometry--fecal indicators, wastewater and activated sludge

The application of sonication to wastewater or sludge contributes to the dispersion of aggregates, the solubilisation of particulate matter with an increase in its biodegradability, the damage of microorganisms due to the loss of cellular membrane integrity. This research is aimed at investigating the effects of sonication at 20kHz frequency on viability of microorganisms present in raw wastewater and activated sludge taken from a municipal wastewater treatment plant, as well as pure strains of Escherichia coli and E. faecalis. Flow cytometry was applied for the identification and quantification of viable and dead bacteria free in the bulk liquid, after the fluorescent staining of cellular nucleic acids. The main results showed that: (i) cells of E. coli were highly sensitive to sonication, even at low specific ultrasonic energy (E(s)), and disintegration of a large amount of cells was observed; (ii) on the contrary E. faecalis were more resistant than E. coli, even if high levels of E(s) were applied; (iii) bacteria in raw wastewater exhibited a dynamic of viable and dead bacteria similar to E. coli; (iv) in activated sludge samples, low levels of E(s) produced a prevalent disaggregation of flocs releasing single cells in the bulk liquid, while disruption of bacteria was induced only by very high levels of E(s).     

Structure-activity relationships and mechanism of action of Eph-ephrin antagonists: interaction of cholanic acid with the EphA2 receptor

The Eph-ephrin system, including the EphA2 receptor and the ephrinA1 ligand, plays a critical role in tumor and vascular functions during carcinogenesis. We previously identified (3α,5β)-3-hydroxycholan-24-oic acid (lithocholic acid) as an Eph-ephrin antagonist that is able to inhibit EphA2 receptor activation; it is therefore potentially useful as a novel EphA2 receptor-targeting agent. Herein we explore the structure-activity relationships of a focused set of lithocholic acid derivatives based on molecular modeling investigations and displacement binding assays. Our exploration shows that while the 3-α-hydroxy group of lithocholic acid has a negligible role in recognition of the EphA2 receptor, its carboxylate group is critical for disrupting the binding of ephrinA1 to EphA2. As a result of our investigation, we identified (5β)-cholan-24-oic acid (cholanic acid) as a novel compound that competitively inhibits the EphA2-ephrinA1 interaction with higher potency than lithocholic acid. Surface plasmon resonance analysis indicates that cholanic acid binds specifically and reversibly to the ligand binding domain of EphA2, with a steady-state dissociation constant (K(D) ) in the low micromolar range. Furthermore, cholanic acid blocks the phosphorylation of EphA2 as well as cell retraction and rounding in PC3 prostate cancer cells, two effects that depend on EphA2 activation by the ephrinA1 ligand. These findings suggest that cholanic acid can be used as a template structure for the design of effective EphA2 antagonists, and may have potential impact in the elucidation of the role played by this receptor in pathological conditions.     

Intraoperative monitoring of facial nerve antidromic potentials during acoustic neuroma surgery

The present paper presents monopolar recording of facial nerve antidromic potentials as an alternative technique to facial electromyography for the continuous monitoring of the facial nerve during acoustic neuroma surgery. The investigation involved 22 patients undergoing acoustic neuroma surgery via a retrosigmoid approach (tumour sizes ranging from 5 to 28 mm). Bipolar electrical stimulation of the marginalis mandibulae was performed to elicit facial nerve antidromic potentials. Stimulus intensity ranged from 2 to 6 mA with a delivery rate of 7/sec. A silver wire monopolar electrode positioned intracranially on the proximal portion of the acoustic facial bundle was used to record antidromic potentials. To define the specific origin of the action potentials and acquire normative data, monopolar and bipolar recordings of facial nerve antidromic potentials were performed in 15 subjects undergoing retrosigmoid vestibular neurectomy for Meniere's disease. The average facial nerve antidromic potential latency was 4.2 (+/- 0.6) msec in subjects with acoustic neuroma and 3.3 (+/- 0.2) msec in subjects with Meniere's disease. Facial nerve antidromic potentials furnished near real-time information about intraoperative facial nerve damage and postoperative facial nerve function during acoustic neuroma surgery. Facial nerve antidromic potentials may provide additional information to conventional EMG. They allow the use of endplate blockers, yield quantitative estimation of facial nerve conduction properties in terms of amplitude and latency, and allow actual continuous monitoring of the facial nerve.     

Engraftment of HLA-matched sibling hematopoietic stem cells after immunosuppressive conditioning regimen in patients with hematologic neoplasias

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this pilot study was to assess the possibility of achieving engraftment of HLA-matched sibling donor mobilized hematopoietic stem cells after immunosuppressive non-myeloablative therapy. The second objective was to verify whether high-dose therapy with autologous stem cells rescue followed by allografting conditioned by only an immunosuppressive regimen, can be combined in order to achieve the reduction of tumor burden after autografting and the control of residual disease with immune-mediated effects after allografting. DESIGN AND METHODS: To enter the pilot study the patients had to fulfil the following criteria: advanced resistant disease, presence of an HLA matched sibling donor, no general contraindications to stem cell transplantation. Our data refers to 9 patients: Hodgkin's disease (n = 4), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 2), advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia (n = 2) (one patient with accelerated phase Ph-negative but p190 BCR-ABL gene positive by RT-PCR and one with Ph-positive blastic phase), refractory anemia with excess of blasts t(1;3) (p36;q21) (n = 1). All patients but one received the combined approach. At a median of 40 days (range 30-96), after high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell engraftment, the patients were treated with immunosuppressive therapy consisting of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (Flu-Cy protocol) and then HLA matched donor mobilized stem cells were infused into the patients. GvHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporin and methotrexate. RESULTS: To date, with a median observation period of 4 months (range, 2-10), complete chimerism (100% donor cells) has been achieved in 6 patients. Three patients did not achieve complete chimerism: one patient died of progressive Hodgkin's disease when he reached 55% of donor cells, another patient is now in increasing phase of donor cell engraftment and the last patient (blastic phase-CML) was the only case who appears to have had autologous recovery. Two of the Hodgkin's disease patients, who were in partial remission after autografting, achieved complete remission after allografting and both are disease free 2 and 6 months after. Another Hodgkin's disease patient is alive at 10 months but she has progressive disease. One of the two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, who achieved partial remission after autografting, obtained complete remission and he is disease free 2 months after allografting. The other patient maintains partial remission obtained after autografting. The accelerated phase-CML patient obtained hematologic and molecular remission; the RAEB patient achieved hematologic and cytogenetic remission. In two patients severe aGVHD (grade II-III) was the single major complication but neither patient died of it. Mild aGVHD was seen in another patient. In only one patient did the ANC decrease to below 1 x 10(9)/L and in no case did platelets decrease below 20 x 10(9)/L. No patients required a sterile room or any red cell or platelet transfusions. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Immunosuppressive therapy with a Flu-Cy protocol allowed engraftment of HLA-matched sibling donor stem cells without procedure-related deaths; moreover, we have demonstrated that this combined procedure can be pursued in safety in a serious ill population and some of these patients achieved a complete remission. This procedure is not likely to be curative, but a fascinating step along the path to curing these diseases. Of course, the follow-up is too short to document the incidence of cGvHD.     

Production-scale molecular beam epitaxy for high-frequency applications

Molecular beam epitaxy wafers are now firmly established as a major component in the production of devices for high-frequency applications. As the markets for such devices mature, producers will face increasing pressure to improve quality and increase volume while continuing to lower prices. Frank J. Bruni earned his PH.D. in metallurgy at the University of Oxford in 1970. He is currently vice president of Picogiga. Linh T. Nuyen earned his Ph.D. in physics at the University of Paris in 1970. He is currently chair of Picogiga.     

The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). Construction and validation of an instrument to evaluate sleep disturbances in childhood and adolescence

To attempt a categorization of sleep disorders in children, we developed a 27 item Likert-type rating scale (Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children: SDSC) and assessed the psychometric properties was developed. The scale was distributed to the mothers of 1304 children (1157 controls, mean age 9.8 y; 147 sleep disorder subjects, mean age 9.2y, composed of four clinical groups: Insomnia 39 subjects, Hypersomnia 12 subjects, Respiratory disturbances during sleep 25 subjects and Parasomnias 71 subjects). The internal consistency was high in controls (0.79) and remained at a satisfactory level in sleep disorder subjects (0.71); the test/retest reliability was adequate for the total (r = 0.71) and single item scores. The factor analysis (variance explained 44.21%) yielded six factors which represented the most common areas of sleep disorders in childhood and adolescence. Enuresis was the only item with a factor loading lower than 0.40 and with a low inter-item correlation and was therefore eliminated, resulting in a final scale of 26 items. The re-evaluation of the sample, using the factor scores, supported the validity and the discriminating capacity of the scales between controls and the four clinical groups. The correlation between factor scores corroborated the hypothesis that childhood sleep disturbances are not independent entities nor do they cluster into different groupings related to each other. The SDSC appears to be a useful tool in evaluating the sleep disturbances of school-age children in clinical and non-clinical populations.     

The presence of asbestos on board ships: optical microscopy as a research instrument

Identification of asbestos in many different kinds of bulk materials was performed by means of optical microscopy and the results are reported in the present paper. Some hundreds of various samples taken aboard ships were analysed: panels, laggings, spray insulations, etc. These analyses were required to be not only reliable but also rapid. The results demonstrated the high reliability as well as the rapidity of the technique. Using both the well-known dispersion staining technique (with central stop objectives or with dark field condensers) and phase-contrast analyses on the same polarizing microscope, we carried out numerous checks on the optical properties of the fibres. Not only were dispersion staining colours detected but also refractive index, elongation and extinction signs, in order to obtain an absolutely certain identification. The Italian laws which deal with the asbestos detection discourage the use of the optical microscope because of its presumed unreliability. This paper tends to demonstrate that Italian laws underestimate the potential of the optical microscope. Optical microscopy is probably the only technique that is reliable, inexpensive and rapid at the same time.