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On 6 March 2013, European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, and the Thai Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union and Thailand. EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht and the Thai Minister of Commerce Boonsong had met the day before to formally agree on the start of negotiations. The ambition is to conclude a comprehensive agreement covering tariffs, non-tariff barriers and other trade related issues, such as services, investment, procurement, regulatory issues, competition, and sustainable development.
The launch of FTA negotiations marks an important step in EU-Thai relations, already strengthened by a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The first negotiating round is expected to take place before the summer break.
Thailand is the EU's third largest trading partner inside ASEAN and the EU is Thailand's third largest trading partner, trade between them in 2012 reaching nearly €32 billion. The EU is also one of the largest investors in Thailand with investment stocks worth over €14 billion in 2011. The FTA with Thailand should deliver substantial economic gains and put the EU on par with partners who have already concluded FTAs with Thailand (China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand).
Thailand is the latest in a series of ASEAN countries to negotiate an FTA with the EU. At the end of 2012, the EU successfully concluded negotiations with Singapore (IP/12/1380) and has been negotiating with Malaysia and Vietnam since 2010 and 2012 respectively (IP/12/689).
The EU began its policy of sealing bilateral deals with individual ASEAN countries in December 2009 when EU Member States gave the green light for the European Commission to push for FTAs. While pursuing this bilateral approach, the EU's ultimate goal is an agreement with ASEAN as a whole, one of the most dynamic regions in the world.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has ten member countries: Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. As a whole, in 2011 ASEAN was the EU's fifth largest trading partner with €212.8 billion of trade in goods and services. The EU is ASEAN's third largest trading partner after China and Japan, accounting for around 10.5% of the bloc's trade. The EU is by far the largest investor in ASEAN countries accounting for an average of 17.1% FDI during the period 2009-2011.
Thailand is one of the 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The ASEAN countries together are the EU's third largest trading partner outside Europe with annual bilateral trade in goods and services of some €213 billion.
Thailand is the EU's third largest trading partner inside ASEAN (and 24th of the EU's total trade). Conversely, the European Union is Thailand's third largest trading partner (after Japan and China).
EU exports are dominated by high tech products including machinery and electrical appliances, pharmaceutical products, vehicles, precious metals and optical instruments.
Thailand's key export items include machinery and electrical appliances, foodstuffs, plastics/rubber, vehicles and precious metals/pearls.
The EU is one of the largest foreign investors in Thailand with investment stocks worth €14.07 billion in 2011.


text:
Current status and trends in inflammatory bowel disease surgery in Korea: Analysis of data in a nationwide registry
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Study Group of the Korean Society of Coloproctology
* New professors
Purpose: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Korea has been increasing in recent years, but accurate statistics about operations for IBD are lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the trends and current status of IBD surgeries in Korea. Methods: Using a national database from the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, we analyzed data from patients who underwent surgery for Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis from January 2009 to October 2016. Results: The mean number of patients who underwent surgery for Crohn disease was 791.8 per year. Colorectal surgery, small bowel surgery, and anal surgery were performed fairly often (31.2%, 29.4%, 39.4%, respectively), and laparoscopic surgery continued to increase, recently exceeding 30%. About 50% of Crohn patients used biologics before and after surgery, and those patients also underwent a relatively high rate of anal surgeries (44.2%). The mean number of patients who underwent surgery for ulcerative colitis was 247.6 per year. Colorectal surgery accounted for more than half of all operations, and laparoscopic surgery has been increasing rapidly, having been performed in about 60% of patients in recent years. The incidence of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis was very high and increased rapidly during the study period, reaching about 80%. Conclusion: The number of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for IBD in Korea has increased significantly. Biologics are actively used by patients with Crohn disease, with a high proportion of anal surgeries required. Many of the surgical indications for ulcerative colitis have shifted into colorectal cancer.
Annals of Coloproctology
https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2018.07.21
Published - 2018 Dec
Colitis-associated cancer
10.3393/ac.2018.07.21
Dive into the research topics of 'Current status and trends in inflammatory bowel disease surgery in Korea: Analysis of data in a nationwide registry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Korea Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Medicine & Life Sciences 91%
Registries Medicine & Life Sciences 77%
Data Analysis Medicine & Life Sciences 72%
Ulcerative Colitis Medicine & Life Sciences 42%
Crohn Disease Medicine & Life Sciences 30%
Laparoscopy Medicine & Life Sciences 29%
Colorectal Surgery Medicine & Life Sciences 26%
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Study Group of the Korean Society of Coloproctology (2018). Current status and trends in inflammatory bowel disease surgery in Korea: Analysis of data in a nationwide registry. Annals of Coloproctology, 34(6), 299-305. https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2018.07.21
Current status and trends in inflammatory bowel disease surgery in Korea : Analysis of data in a nationwide registry. / Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Study Group of the Korean Society of Coloproctology.
In: Annals of Coloproctology, Vol. 34, No. 6, 12.2018, p. 299-305.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Study Group of the Korean Society of Coloproctology 2018, 'Current status and trends in inflammatory bowel disease surgery in Korea: Analysis of data in a nationwide registry', Annals of Coloproctology, vol. 34, no. 6, pp. 299-305. https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2018.07.21
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Study Group of the Korean Society of Coloproctology. Current status and trends in inflammatory bowel disease surgery in Korea: Analysis of data in a nationwide registry. Annals of Coloproctology. 2018 Dec;34(6):299-305. doi: 10.3393/ac.2018.07.21
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Study Group of the Korean Society of Coloproctology. / Current status and trends in inflammatory bowel disease surgery in Korea : Analysis of data in a nationwide registry. In: Annals of Coloproctology. 2018 ; Vol. 34, No. 6. pp. 299-305.
@article{50726cac71d24cd594c3391b02e38151,
title = "Current status and trends in inflammatory bowel disease surgery in Korea: Analysis of data in a nationwide registry",
abstract = "Purpose: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Korea has been increasing in recent years, but accurate statistics about operations for IBD are lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the trends and current status of IBD surgeries in Korea. Methods: Using a national database from the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, we analyzed data from patients who underwent surgery for Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis from January 2009 to October 2016. Results: The mean number of patients who underwent surgery for Crohn disease was 791.8 per year. Colorectal surgery, small bowel surgery, and anal surgery were performed fairly often (31.2%, 29.4%, 39.4%, respectively), and laparoscopic surgery continued to increase, recently exceeding 30%. About 50% of Crohn patients used biologics before and after surgery, and those patients also underwent a relatively high rate of anal surgeries (44.2%). The mean number of patients who underwent surgery for ulcerative colitis was 247.6 per year. Colorectal surgery accounted for more than half of all operations, and laparoscopic surgery has been increasing rapidly, having been performed in about 60% of patients in recent years. The incidence of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis was very high and increased rapidly during the study period, reaching about 80%. Conclusion: The number of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for IBD in Korea has increased significantly. Biologics are actively used by patients with Crohn disease, with a high proportion of anal surgeries required. Many of the surgical indications for ulcerative colitis have shifted into colorectal cancer.",
keywords = "Colitis-associated cancer, Crohn disease, Inflammatory bowel disease, Laparoscopy, Ulcerative colitis",
author = "{Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Study Group of the Korean Society of Coloproctology} and Baek, {Se Jin} and Lee, {Kil Yeon} and Song, {Ki Hwan} and Yu, {Chang Sik}",
note = "Funding Information: This research was financially supported by The Korean Society of Coloproctology. Funding Information: This research was financially supported by The Korean Society of Coloproctology. The members of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Study Group of the Korean Society of Coloproctology as follows: Chang-Nam Kim, Eulji University Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea; In Kyu Lee, Seoul St. Mary{\textquoteright}s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea; Jae Kyun Ju, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea; Jong Lyul Lee, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Ki Yun Lim, Songdo Colorectal Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Kyu Joo Park, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Rumi Shin, Seoul Metropolitan Government-Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea; Seung-Bum Ryoo, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Seung Hyuk Baik, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Sohyun Kim, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea; Yong Beom Cho, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Yong-Geul Joh, Hansol Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Yong Sik Yoon, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 The Korean Society of Coloproctology",
doi = "10.3393/ac.2018.07.21",
journal = "Annals of Coloproctology",
publisher = "Korean Society of Coloproctology",
T1 - Current status and trends in inflammatory bowel disease surgery in Korea
T2 - Analysis of data in a nationwide registry
AU - Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Study Group of the Korean Society of Coloproctology
AU - Baek, Se Jin
AU - Lee, Kil Yeon
AU - Song, Ki Hwan
AU - Yu, Chang Sik
N1 - Funding Information: This research was financially supported by The Korean Society of Coloproctology. Funding Information: This research was financially supported by The Korean Society of Coloproctology. The members of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Study Group of the Korean Society of Coloproctology as follows: Chang-Nam Kim, Eulji University Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea; In Kyu Lee, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea; Jae Kyun Ju, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea; Jong Lyul Lee, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Ki Yun Lim, Songdo Colorectal Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Kyu Joo Park, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Rumi Shin, Seoul Metropolitan Government-Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea; Seung-Bum Ryoo, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Seung Hyuk Baik, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Sohyun Kim, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea; Yong Beom Cho, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Yong-Geul Joh, Hansol Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Yong Sik Yoon, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 The Korean Society of Coloproctology
N2 - Purpose: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Korea has been increasing in recent years, but accurate statistics about operations for IBD are lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the trends and current status of IBD surgeries in Korea. Methods: Using a national database from the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, we analyzed data from patients who underwent surgery for Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis from January 2009 to October 2016. Results: The mean number of patients who underwent surgery for Crohn disease was 791.8 per year. Colorectal surgery, small bowel surgery, and anal surgery were performed fairly often (31.2%, 29.4%, 39.4%, respectively), and laparoscopic surgery continued to increase, recently exceeding 30%. About 50% of Crohn patients used biologics before and after surgery, and those patients also underwent a relatively high rate of anal surgeries (44.2%). The mean number of patients who underwent surgery for ulcerative colitis was 247.6 per year. Colorectal surgery accounted for more than half of all operations, and laparoscopic surgery has been increasing rapidly, having been performed in about 60% of patients in recent years. The incidence of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis was very high and increased rapidly during the study period, reaching about 80%. Conclusion: The number of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for IBD in Korea has increased significantly. Biologics are actively used by patients with Crohn disease, with a high proportion of anal surgeries required. Many of the surgical indications for ulcerative colitis have shifted into colorectal cancer.
AB - Purpose: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Korea has been increasing in recent years, but accurate statistics about operations for IBD are lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the trends and current status of IBD surgeries in Korea. Methods: Using a national database from the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, we analyzed data from patients who underwent surgery for Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis from January 2009 to October 2016. Results: The mean number of patients who underwent surgery for Crohn disease was 791.8 per year. Colorectal surgery, small bowel surgery, and anal surgery were performed fairly often (31.2%, 29.4%, 39.4%, respectively), and laparoscopic surgery continued to increase, recently exceeding 30%. About 50% of Crohn patients used biologics before and after surgery, and those patients also underwent a relatively high rate of anal surgeries (44.2%). The mean number of patients who underwent surgery for ulcerative colitis was 247.6 per year. Colorectal surgery accounted for more than half of all operations, and laparoscopic surgery has been increasing rapidly, having been performed in about 60% of patients in recent years. The incidence of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis was very high and increased rapidly during the study period, reaching about 80%. Conclusion: The number of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for IBD in Korea has increased significantly. Biologics are actively used by patients with Crohn disease, with a high proportion of anal surgeries required. Many of the surgical indications for ulcerative colitis have shifted into colorectal cancer.
KW - Colitis-associated cancer
KW - Crohn disease
KW - Inflammatory bowel disease
KW - Laparoscopy
KW - Ulcerative colitis
U2 - 10.3393/ac.2018.07.21
DO - 10.3393/ac.2018.07.21
JO - Annals of Coloproctology
JF - Annals of Coloproctology

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Nick Larkin
HEA vs STA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
STR vs STA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
REN vs STA 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 0
PS vs STA 1 3 0 0 33.33 0 0 0 0 0 0
STR vs STA 3 6 0 0 50.00 0 0 0 0 0 0
T20s 42 37 832 677 11 32.00 122.89 0 5 83 86 15 16 0
LISTAs 11 10 151 226 1 16.77 66.81 0 0 36 10 0 2 0
FIRSTCLASS 43 77 2121 4660 4 29.05 45.51 4 8 175 222 6 43 0
T20s 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LISTAs 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FIRSTCLASS 43 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Perth Scorchers defeat Melbourne Stars by 11 runs to book place in the playoffs
BBL 2020-21: Melbourne Stars' Nick Larkin 'hides the ball' to take a cheeky single [Watch]
BBL 2018/19, Melbourne Stars vs Perth Scorchers : Preview and Predicted Playing XI
Maxwell and Larkin see Stars past Thunder
D'Arcy makes Short work of Melbourne Stars
771789 754516 508910 507305 501524


text:
Odor Proving Worth, Back On Upswing
Published Sep 18, 2014 at 10:51 AM
When the 2014 season began, before the Texas Rangers went from perennial pennant contender to MLB cellar dweller in the blink of an eye, Jurickson Profar was supposed to be the Rangers' everyday second baseman after they dealt away Ian Kinsler for slugging first baseman Prince Fielder.
Soon after, Fielder was out for the season, and so was Profar, along with a long list of other everyday players which has led the Rangers to the position of trying to avoid a 100-loss season.
In Profar's absence, which is really unfortunate as the 21-year-old former top prospect lost an entire year of development, the door has been opened for another young prospect in Rougned Odor.
The 20-year-old was supposed to spend the season in Double-A Frisco, and instead was called up in May after it was clear the Josh Wilson/Donnie Murphy second base platoon wasn't going to cut it. Odor proceeded to get off to a monster start before hitting the expected wall any 20-year-old not named Mike Trout or Bryce Harper, on his first swim through the majors, would.
As August came to a close, there was valid concern that maybe Odor wasn't all that. He has no plate discipline, which isn't unheard of for a kid his age, and despite having speed he is a very unpolished base-stealer. Maybe once guys got a book on him, he was toast, and there's always a fear a young kid can get ruined by being thrown to the wolves too soon.
But over the last 16 games, Odor has helped eliminate those worries and it now seems Odor is on the verge of being a star.
In that time, Odor has picked things up again, hitting .333 with a .390 on-base percentage, two homers and 10 RBIs to go with three doubles and a triple. His RBI double put Texas on the board on Wednesday night to tie the game 1-1 in the ninth before the A's wheels came flying off. He has no fear and seems to always come up with big hits in key spots.
The obvious question here is what the Rangers will do with this new version of a middle infield logjam with Profar, Odor, Elvis Andrus and even Luis Sardinas plugging up those two spots. Both Odor and Profar are natural second basemen, and really only Profar could play shortstop if Andrus is shipped away.
At this point, and this is crazy to say, Odor has done a lot more on the big-league level than the once-can't miss Profar, who's still only 21 years old. Something is going to happen with that group this winter, it just remains to be seen what.


text:
DEFENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY ISLAMABAD ACT, 2013
ACT NO XII OF 2013
An Act to provide for establishment of Defence Housing Authority Islamabad
[Gazette of Pakistan, Extraordinary, Part-I, 19th March, 2013]
No. F. 9(7)/2013-Legis:—The following Act of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) received the assent of the President on 16th March, 2013, is hereby published for general information:—
WHEREAS it is expedient to establish Defence Housing Authority Islamabad for the purpose and object of carrying out schemes and projects of land development, inter-alia for welfare of the bereaved families of martyrs, war injured, disabled and other persons of the defence forces of Pakistan to boost their morale; to provide financial security in recognition of their selfless services for the defence of the nation; and to provide for ancillary matters;
It is hereby enacted as follows:—
1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad Act, 2013.
(2) It extends to the specified area in Islamabad Capital Territory.
(3) It shall come into force at once and shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from the 15th August, 2010.
2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything resurgent in the subject or context,—
(a) "Administrator" means the Administrator appointed under Section 8;
(b) "Authority" means the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad established under Section 3;
(c) "Chairman" means Chairman of the Governing Body;
(d) "Executive Board" means Executive Board constituted under this Act;
(e) "Governing Body" means Governing Body constituted under Section 4;
(f) "Government" means the Federal Government;
(g) "member" means a member of the Authority and includes the Chairman;
(h) "prescribed" means prescribed by rule or regulations made under this Act;
(i) "President" means President of the Executive Board;
(j) "project" means any project of development of land undertaken or planned by the Authority in the specified area;
(k) "Scheme" means any scheme, plan, facility or project for development of land for residential or commercial use undertaken, planned or made and approved by the Authority under this Act;
(l) "Secretary" means Secretary of the Authority;
(m) "specified area" means all land owned, purchased or procured by or vested in or leased to the Army Welfare Housing Scheme or the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad constituted under any law before the commencement of this Act in Islamabad Capital Territory and such other land as may, from time to time, be purchased or procured by or leased to the Authority in Islamabad Capital Territory and notified by the Government; and
(n) "Vice-President" means Vice-President of the Executive Board.
3. The Authority.—(1) There shall be established an Authority to be known as Defence Housing Authority Islamabad for carrying out purposes of this Act.
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and common seal with power to purchase, procure, sell, exchange, hold and dispose of property and shall by the said name, sue and be sued.
(3) The head office of the Authority shall be at Islamabad.
(4) While designing, planning and executing a scheme in the specified area, the Authority shall adhere to the master plan of Islamabad and ensure that all public roads and revenue paths leading to and from the adjoining areas and access to graveyards shall, as far as possible, be maintained and no change or alteration shall be made in such roads, paths or access except with prior approval of the Government.
(5) Subject to the financial viability of a Scheme, the Authority shall reserve in a scheme in the specified area at least fifty per-cent quota for the bereaved family of the martyrs, war injured, disabled and junior ranks from sepoys to junior commissioned officers of the defence forces of Pakistan.
4. Governing Body.—(1) The general administration, supervision and control of the affairs of the Authority shall vest in the Governing Body, which shall consist of,—
(a) Secretary, Ministry of Defence; Chairman
(b) Adjutant General Pakistan Army; Vice-Chairman
(c) a serving or retired Major General of
Pakistan Army to be nominated by the
Chief of Army Staff: Member
(d) Chief Commissioner, Islamabad; Member
(c) Administrator; Member
(f) Chairman, Capital Development
Authority; and Member
(g) Secretary. Member-cum-Secretary
(2) The Governing Body shall,—
(a) review progress and activities of the Authority;
(b) lay down policy for guidance of the Executive Board;
(c) consider and approve budget and audit reports of the Authority; and
(d) transact such other business of the Authority as the Executive Board may place before it.
5. Executive Board.—(1) There shall be an Executive Board which shall exercise such administrative executive and financial powers of the Authority and do all such acts and functions as the Governing Body may delegate or assign to it.
(2) The Executive Board shall consist of,—
(a) Adjutant General, Pakistan Army ; President
(b) a serving or retired Major General
of Pakistan Army to be nominated by
the Chief of Army Staff; Vice-President
(d) Secretary of the Authority to be
appointed by the President; and Secretary
(e) two residents of Schemes of the
Authority Co-opted
(3) The Government shall, for a period not exceeding five years at a time, appoint the co-opted members in accordance with the regulations but they shall serve during the pleasure of the Government.
(4) In the performance of its functions, the Executive Board shall comply with the directions of Governing Body.
6. Powers and functions of Executive Board.—(1) Subject to all applicable laws and provisions of this Act, the Executive Board may take such measures and exercise such powers as may be necessary for proper planning and development of the specified area and for carrying out purposes of this Act.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, the Executive Board may, in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations,—
(a) purchase, procure, hold, manage, reclaim and take possession of any property in the specified area;
(b) prepare, plan, develop, notify, execute, implement, maintain, manage and regulate any scheme in the specified area;
(c) enter into contracts, arrangements, joint ventures, and agreements with any person, for preparation, planning, development, execution, implementation and maintenance of schemes in the specified area and for carrying out purposes of this Act;
(d) incur any expenditure and procure plant, machinery, equipment, instrument and necessary materials;
(e) carry out, maintain, arrange, manage and provide all facilities, services and utilities, including water, electricity, gas and sewerage in schemes in the specified area so as to ensure that the property is maintained up to the required standards for benefit of the residents;
(f) plan, approve and execute mergers and amalgamations with other housing schemes or cooperative housing societies subject to approval of the competent authorities of those housing schemes or housing societies for merger and amalgamation;
(g) impose, vary and recover development charges and transfer fees in respect of any land within any scheme in the specified area;
(h) lease, purchase procure, sell, exchange, mortgage, rent out or otherwise dispose of any property vested in the Authority;
(i) cancel or re-plan any scheme or part thereof in the specified area;
(j) apply for acquisition of land to the Government for initiation and completion of process of land acquisition in accordance with the law governing land acquisition; and
(k) do all such acts deeds and things that may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of proper preparation, planning, development, execution, implementation, management and maintenance of residential and commercial facilities in the schemes in the specified area.
(3) The Executive Board shall meet as and when required or considered necessary by the Administrator, in consultation with the President.
(4) The Executive Board shall transact such business at a meeting as the Administrator may place before it:
Provided that the Defence Housing Authority shall obtain N.O.C from civic amenities providing agencies who are responsible for supply of services like water, sewerage and sanitation etc, and civic utilities like electricity, gas and telephone etc. working as autonomous bodies.
7. Powers of the Executive Board to borrow.—Subject to the Government's rules and guidelines, the Executive Board may obtain loans for the purposes of generating capital for its schemes.
8. Administrator.—(1) The Chief of Army Staff shall nominate a person not below the rank of serving or retired Brigadier of Pakistan Army, as Administrator of the Authority.
(2) The Administrator shall be the chief executive officer of the Authority.
9. Powers and functions of the Administrator.—(1) Subject to provisions of this Act and the regulations, the Administrator shall exercise all executive powers of the Authority, delegated to him or otherwise, in accordance with the policy laid down by the Governing Body and the directions or decisions of the Executive Board.
(2) The Administrator may, either by himself or through any officer appointed by the Executive Board in this behalf, carry on the correspondence and shall sign, verify, pursue and file all pleadings and such other documents on behalf of the Authority, in any suit, appeal, petition and proceedings which may be instituted, prepared and filed by or against the Authority in or before any court, tribunal or authority.
(3) The Administrator may, with approval of the Executive Board, delegate any of his specified powers to any of his sub-ordinate staff, including but not limited to sign contracts, pleadings or any other legal instruments on behalf of the Authority.
(4) Subject to conditions of delegation of the authority, the authorized officer shall exercise the power of signing the instrument after its approval by the Executive Board or, as the case may be, the Administrator.
10. Meetings.—(1) The Governing Body shall meet at least once each year on such date, time and place as may be fixed by the Chairman.
(2) The Chairman and, in his absence, the most senior member of the Governing Body shall preside over meetings of the Governing Body.
(3) The President and, in his absence, the most senior member of the Executive Board shall preside over meetings of the Executive Board.
(4) The quorum of a meeting of the Governing Body or the Executive Board shall be a majority of the total membership.
(5) The Secretary shall record, maintain and keep the minutes of meetings of the Governing Body and the Executive Board.
11. Appointments.—The Executive Board may, in such manner and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed, appoint such officers, functionaries, employees, staff, experts, consultants and advisers as may be necessary for purposes of this Act.
12. Annual report and accounts.—As soon as may be after conclusion of a financial year but before the 31st day of December, the Executive Board shall in respect of the said financial year, submit to the Governing Body a general report on its affairs including accounts, balance sheet and audit.
13. Delegation of powers.—Subject to this Act and the specified conditions, the Governing Body, the Executive Board and the Administrator may, by order in writing, delegate to any person to exercise any of their powers and perform such functions and duties as may be specified in the order.
14. Committees.—The Governing Body and the Executive Board may constitute such committees and assign to them such functions as may be necessary for efficient performance of their respective functions.
15. Authority Fund.—(1) There shall be a fund to be known as the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad Fund which shall vest in the Authority and to which shall be credited all moneys received by the Authority.
(2) The fund shall be kept in a scheduled bank or financial institution and shall be utilized and regulated in such manner as may be prescribed.
(3) The funds may, with approval of the Executive Board, be invested in any banking, financial or non-banking financial institution.
16. Budget, audit and accounts.—The budget of the Authority shall be approved by the Governing Body and its accounts shall be maintained and audited in such manner as may be prescribed.
17. Power to cancel allotment.—The Executive Board may cancel revoke or rescind any allotment, transfer, licence lease or agreement in respect of any plot or housing unit in a scheme in the specified area if the allottee, transferee, licensee or lessee fails to pay the dues or installments, including development charges, in respect of such plot or housing unit within three months from the date of receipt of the demand notice in writing or within such extended time as the Governing Body or the Executive Board may, in special cases, fix and thereupon the plot or the housing unit, with or without construction thereon, shall be resumed and shall vest in the Authority.
18. Conversion of property to a different use.—(1) If a person converts without previous written approval of the Authority, any property in a scheme in the specified area to a use or purpose other than the one provided under the scheme, such person shall be liable to fine which may extend to two thousand rupees per day from the date of the conversion of the property till the default continues.
(2) The Authority shall not impose the fine under sub-section (1) unless the person concerned is afforded an opportunity of being heard.
19. Removal of building erected or used in contravention of the Act.—(1) If any land is used or building, structure, work on land is erected, constructed or used in contravention of the provisions of this Act or any regulations or orders made thereunder, or in contravention of the Scheme or without the permission of the Authority, the Authority or any person authorized by it in this behalf, may, by order in writing, require the owner, occupier, user or person in control of such land, building, structure, work on land to remove, demolish or alter the building, structure or work or to use it in such manner as may bring such erection, construction or use in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(2) If an order under sub-section (1), in respect of any building, structure work or land is not complied with in such time, as may be specified therein, the Authority or any person authorized by it in this behalf, may, after giving the person concerned an opportunity of being heard, remove, demolish or alter the building, structure or work, or stop the use of the land, or seal the building, premises and in so doing, may use such force as may be necessary and may also recover the cost thereof from the person responsible for the erection, construction, or use of the building, structure, work or land.
20. Power to make regulations.—(1) The Governing Body may, for carrying out the purposes of this Act, make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act or any other law, rules, regulations or bye-laws for the time being in force in the Specified Area.
(2) The Executive Board may, with the prior approval of the Governing Body, frame regulations relating to the terms and conditions of service of employees, staff and consultants of the Authority.
21. Act not to override other laws.—The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any other law for the time being in force.
22. Transfer and savings.—(1) After, on the repeal of the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad Ordinance, 2010 (XV of 2010) and on commencement of this Act, to the extent of Specified Area in Islamabad Capital Territory;
(a) all assets, rights, powers, authorities and privileges and all property, movable and immovable, cash and bank balances, reserve funds, investments and all other interests and rights in or arising out of such property and all liabilities and obligations of whatever kind of the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad established before this Act, shall be transferred to and vested in the Authority;
(b) all contracts and agreements entered into, all rights acquired and all matters and things agreed to be done by, with or for the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad established before this Act, shall be deemed to have been entered into, acquired or agreed to be done by, with or for the Authority;
(c) all leases executed and all grants made and all lands vested in the name of the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad established before this Act, shall be deemed to be leases executed, grants made and property vested in the name of the Authority;
(d) all contracts, projects, schemes, work (whether in progress or not) and all guarantees, undertakings, obligations, liabilities and mortgages, executed or subsisting in the name of the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad established before this Act, shall be deemed to be contracts, projects, schemes, works, guarantees, undertakings, obligations, liabilities and mortgages of the Authority;
(e) all pending disputes in respect of the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad established before this Act, shall stand transferred to this Authority and be decided by the Administrator and any party aggrieved by his decision shall have the right of appeal to the Executive Board whose decision thereon shall be final;
(f) all suits, petitions and other legal proceedings instituted by or against the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad established before this Act, shall be deemed to be suits, petitions, and proceedings by or against the Authority;
(g) all allotments and transfers of plots, whether residential, commercial or otherwise, made by the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad established before this Act, shall be deemed to be allotments and transfers made by the Authority; and
(h) all bye-laws and regulations in force immediately before the commencement of this Act made by the Defence
Housing Authority Islamabad established before this Act, shall continue to remain in force until, altered or repealed by regulations made under this Act.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Executive Board may:
(a) alter the area of any plot involving duplicate allotments and re-allot the same in such manner as it may consider appropriate; and
(b) pass such order in respect of transfer of plot involving duplicate allotments as it may deem fit.
23. Appeal.—Any person aggrieved by an order of cancellation under Section 17, or imposition of fine under Section 18, or an order under Section 19, or an order of the Executive Board under Section 22 may, within 15 days of the communication of the order, file an appeal before the Governing Body, whose decision shall be final.
24. Validation.—All actions done or taken by the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad before the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to be validly done or have been taken to the extent they are consistent with this Act.
25. Removal of difficulty.—If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any provision of this Act, the Government may, within one year of the commencement of this Act, give such directions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act, as it may consider necessary for the removal of such difficulty.
By admin|2016-06-26T11:11:24+00:00June 23rd, 2016|Laws|Comments Off on DEFENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY ISLAMABAD ACT, 2013


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First rehearsals begin for Tijana Bogićević, Nathan Trent, Jana Burčeska and Claudia Faniello
Michael Outerson / 2nd May 2017 at 09:26 / Eurovision Song Contest, Rehearsals
This morning the first rehearsals began for the artists in the second semi final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. You can read our live reviews as the rehearsals continue.
The first four countries to perform this morning are Serbia, Austria, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Malta.
3 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
4 Malta
Tijana stands in the middle of the circular stage to perform her song, In Too Deep. Wearing a pair of slightly oversized white pants and a white top, she does not move around too much. The stage, which starts dark, ends up again, being dark blue with bubbles of water bursting out now and again. You can hear her backing vocalists off-stage.
In the middle of the song, the male dancer in her promotional video appears, but there is no sign of the female. He dances around her, also dressed in white and at times seems to be getting more camera time than Tijana. He finally stands beside her at the end, back to the camera. A row of yellow light bulbs ends the performance. It is a competent performance, but with seventeen other songs to come, it may not be remembered.
Nathan starts Running On Air, sitting on what initially looks like a chair but ends up actually being a large silver crescent moon, made from the same material as a disco ball. He is totally dressed in white, save for silver boots and ends up standing on his moon to perform, what is a vocally perfect performance. Large clouds of smoke overtake the stage, first purple and white, then blue, and when Nathan jumps from his moon, orange. Twelve bright yellow lights beam from the back of the stage.
He walks to the front of the stage and you can see simply lit yellow lights around it. After a while he returns to his moon and you get the first sight of the four backing singers, also dressed in white.
A fourth rehearsal took place to practise the fog machine. A sufficient amount of white fog added to the visuals but they will need to be careful that it doesn't overwhelm the performer.
This is one to watch, well regarded in the press centre.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Jana is dressed in a leather jacket and black boots right up to the knee. The back ground music of her song, Dance Alone is different from the recorded version and there are lots of heys going on from the back ground singers. She is holding the microphone for the whole performance and doing lots of pouting on stage.
On the second rehearsal Jana removed the jacket to reveal a dark green lace dress. The performance starts out with black and white images of Jana on the video wall. As it continues there are lots of flashing lights and Jana struts across the stage.
The vocals aren't too bad, but they are not remarkable either. Like Svala, Jana seems lost on the big stage, dancing alone.
The background has twirling red and white rectangles and at times it returns to black and white. Not too bad, but now seems to have only a marginal shot of qualifying.
A very elegantly dressed Claudia, in a classy white evening gown, with silver accessories. This is old school Eurovision but oozes star quality. There is nothing fancy on the stage, but guess what, the background is yet again, a very dark blue. Flashlights protrude from the back of the stage.
Claudia just stands on stage and performs the song. In the background there are images of Claudia singing the song from previous occasions. The wind machine is put to good use as the song progresses and Claudia looks a little like Gloria Estefan.
Stay tuned this afternoon for Romania, The Netherlands, Hungary, Denmark and Ireland
Written by Michael Outerson from United Kingdom / United States
View profile and more posts from Michael
2nd May 2017 in Eurovision Song Contest, Rehearsals. Tags: Breathlessly, Claudia Faniello, Dance Alone, in too deep, Jana Burčeska, Nathan Trent, Running On Air, Tijana Bogićević Countries: Austria, Malta, North Macedonia, Serbia
This morning the first rehearsals began for the artists in the second semi final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. You can read our live reviews as the rehearsals continue. The first four countries to perform this morning are Serbia, Austria, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Malta. Contents1 Serbia2 Austria3 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia4… Read more
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Discussion in 'General Science & Technology' started by th.w.heller, Oct 15, 2008.
A few weeks ago Bill Maher was on the Daily Show pitching his film Religulous. Jon Steward took him to be an atheist to which he responded (with some paraphrasing), "I'm not an atheist. I don't like atheism. It's the mirror image of the certitude of religion." To an extremely skeptical agnostic like myself this seemed quite reasonable. Is there enough empirical evidence for atheism? I don't for a minute equate the "certitude" of atheism with that of the currently accepted religions but can't help thinking that atheists are a little too smug given the current state of scientific knowledge. Am I missing something? Do we know enough about the past, current, future state of the universe (amongst other things?) to absolutely exclude the possibility of some form of deity?
Do we know enough about the past, current, future state of the universe (amongst other things?) to absolutely exclude the possibility of some form of deity?
No, because some form of diety could always be constructed that avoids inquiry.
Does the present state of science exclude the probability of the orthodox Christian/Islamic/Judeo God? Yes.
I couldn't agree with you more on your second point. Thanks for the book reference - I'll check it out. Perhaps it will shake that nagging agnosticism of mine.
Is there one definition of such a God?
In other words, in order to say something doesn't exist, one must define the thing that doesn't exist.
No, there are different sects and interpretations. Stenger only refuted the most common one as an example.
Absolutely. So refuting an ill-defined example of an ill-defined set is grounds for claiming that "religion is unscientific"?
I think you should qualify what you mean by "the orthodox Christian/Islamic/Judeo God".
As you noted, I can always define a "god" that avoids detection---this is just a restatement of the fact that science cannot prove the existence or un-existence of God, it can only set limits.
So claiming science kills God is hardly valid, in my opinion.
One could argue that just for being undefined, it's unscientific.
For the sake of argument let's say that science can deny the existence of anthropomorphic deities like those found in the accepted religions. Let's also exclude the "god as the machine of the universe" idea simply because it doesn't qualify as a deity to most people. Can science as it stands todayexclude a Prime Mover outside the sphere of natural laws? I'm not saying that I think such an entity exists. My question is whether we have enough data to, with a clear conscience as scientists, exclude such a possibility? If push came to shove I personally would have to say no.
Likewise, atheism is just the opposite face of the coin, as Bill Maher points out.
No, it's not undefined at all. As you said, one can always define a God that avoids detection. If this is the case, then it is up to you (the scientist) to design an experiment to test the implications of my God.
Today things are quite different, and the stars of modern science are more likely to have been brought up on science fiction ... the physicist who is a quantum mechanic has no more knowledge of philosophy than the average car mechanic.
I won't argue that God is a poorly defined concept. This is the case even in the Bible, and (I suspect) even in other sacred texts.
How can one apply scientific reasoning to an unscientific concept? If you can't design experiments to test it, even in principle, then in what sense can one claim that it doesn't exist?
If you can't design experiments to detect it, couldn't it be dismissed out of hand, (occam's razor)? In other words, if God answers prayers in such a way as to be indistinguishable from ordinary random events, what is the power of that hypothesis?
this is built on the (metaphysical) assumption that empiricism has the monopoly on discerning the truth ... bringing empiricism in to gauge the validity of metaphysical claims is kind of like bringing in a thermometer to measure distances.
Maybe not a monopoly, but it has a good track record so far.
Is it reasonable to simply to reject something out of hand simply because you can't at this point in time design an experiment to test it? Aren't there examples in the past (or even now) where scientists had to impatiently wait until they had the tools to design and carry out such experiments? I don't think that is a swipe at science but just a statement of the reality of our situation. The question is what should be our mindset in the meantime?
That wasn't Ben's question, he asked if you could even in principle design an experiment to test the claim... not just that the tools don't exist yet.


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Love this! The colors are striking and love the layers! And thanks so much Tracey for the wonderful surprise in my mailbox this week!! Was so fun to receive it!
Yellow is perfect for this card! You did a lovely job with your use of color and balancing the layout.
Love your card with the pop of Lemon. It looks really bright and cheerful.
Oooh, I like the lemon!! I am not a yellow person but this looks wonderful with the black and white!


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Research Update | February 2013
Probiotics, new-generation anticoagulants and antiplatelet therapy, and more.
Critically ill patients may benefit from probiotics, but evidence is weak
Probiotics may reduce infectious complications, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), in critically ill patients, a systematic review and meta-analysis suggests.
Researchers searched databases, article reference lists, and personal files from 1980 to 2011. Their review included 23 randomized controlled trials that evaluated use of probiotics versus placebo in critically ill adults for outcomes including infections (primary) and mortality and length of stay (secondary). Subgroup analyses were performed to compare high and low doses of probiotics, different strains of probiotics, and methodological quality of studies. Results were published in the December 2012 Critical Care Medicine.
The mean methodological score of all trials was 9.5 (range, 6 to 13) of a possible 14. Of the 23 trials, seven (30%) tested the viability of the probiotics used in the intervention.
Different probiotic therapies were used among the 23 included trials; eight used Lactobacillus plantarum and three used Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG.
In the 11 trials that reported infectious complications, pooled results show that probiotics were associated with a reduction in such complications (risk ratio [RR], 0.82; P=0.03). Pooled data from the seven trials reporting VAP data found a significant reduction in VAP rates associated with probiotics (RR, 0.75; P=0.03). Probiotics were associated with a non-significant trend toward reduced ICU mortality (RR, 0.80; P=0.16) but had no effect on hospital mortality or length of stay in the ICU or hospital. More dramatic treatment effects were seen in trials of lower methodological quality.
The findings in this analysis were "tempered by the presence of significant clinical and statistical heterogeneity and the lack of statistical precision in some analyses," the authors noted, and were further weakened by the fact that more dramatic results were found in the lower-quality trials. The results are, however, consistent with a 2009 review that suggested probiotics reduce VAP. Unlike other studies, this review didn't find an association between probiotic use and fewer cases of diarrhea, they noted. The best type and dosage of probiotics also were not clear from this analysis, they wrote.
A separate meta-analysis of 13 trials, published in the Sept. 10, 2012, Chest, found that probiotics didn't significantly reduce hospital or ICU mortality or the duration of mechanical ventilation. Probiotics were, however, associated with lower incidence of ICU-acquired pneumonia and a shorter stay in the ICU.
New-generation anticoagulants associated with bleeding after ACS in patients on antiplatelet therapy
New-generation anticoagulants are associated with increased bleeding risk when used after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients taking antiplatelet agents, according to a meta-analysis.
Researchers analyzed data from randomized, placebo- controlled trials that examined anti-Xa or direct thrombin inhibitors in post-ACS patients who were receiving antiplatelet therapy. Stent thrombosis, overall mortality rate and a composite end point including major ischemic events were evaluated as efficacy measures. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) major bleeding events was the safety end point. The researchers calculated the net clinical benefit of therapy by summing composite ischemic events and major bleeding events. The results were published in the Nov. 12, 2012, Archives of Internal Medicine.
Seven trials published between Jan. 1, 2000, and Dec. 31, 2011, were included in the meta-analysis. The trials involved 31,286 patients who had been admitted to the hospital for unstable angina pectoris, ST-segment elevation MI, or non-ST-segment elevation MI. Patients with severe cardiac, renal or liver insufficiency and those with high bleeding risk (including those requiring long-term oral anticoagulation) were excluded. Follow-up ranged from three months to five years.
Overall, new-generation oral anticoagulants were associated with a significant increase in major bleeding in patients receiving antiplatelet therapy after ACS (odds ratio, 3.03; P<0.001). Risk for stent thrombosis or composite ischemic events was significantly but moderately reduced with the new agents, while no significant effect was seen on overall mortality. The new anticoagulants did not appear to provide an advantage over placebo in net clinical benefit (odds ratio, 0.98; P=0.57).
The authors noted that some of the included trials had high rates of drug discontinuation or had short follow-up periods. In addition, the trials evaluated different drugs in different dosages and used different definitions of composite outcomes. However, the authors concluded that anti-Xa and direct thrombin inhibitors are linked to increased major bleeding risk in ACS patients receiving antiplatelet therapy, to the point that the net clinical benefit of the drugs is neutral.
"Because the use of new-generation P2Y12 ADP-receptor antagonists may result in greater reductions of ischemic events, with substantially lower risk for bleeding complications, the role of oral anticoagulant agents after an ACS is debatable," they wrote.
An invited commentary pointed out that while the relative risk for major bleeding seemed dramatic, the absolute risk increase was 0.9% (1.3% for novel oral anticoagulants compared with 0.4% for control therapy). However, the absolute risk decreases for the composite ischemic outcome and for MI were −1.3% (6.5% vs. 7.8%) and −0.8% (3.7% vs. 4.5%), respectively, and the absolute risk differences for net clinical benefit and for overall death were each −0.5%.
"The benefit is largely canceled by the harm; therefore, the routine use of [novel anticoagulants] among patients with ACS is unwarranted," the commentary author wrote. He called for additional research to examine the use of newer anticoagulants in specific populations of patients with ACS.
Recurrent TIA and minor stroke associated with resulting disabilities, study finds
A detailed prospective study of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and minor stroke found 15% of patients were disabled at 90 days, even though most of them did not have a recurrent event.
Researchers prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with stroke rated less than 4 on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale or patients with TIA who were previously not disabled and had computed tomography or computed tomography angiography (CT/CTA) within 24 hours of symptoms.
Disability was assessed at 90 days using the modified Rankin Scale. Predictors of disability (modified Rankin Scale ≥2) and the relative impact of the initial event versus recurrent events were assessed. Results were published in the November 2012 Stroke.
Among 499 patients, 74 (15%; 95% CI, 12% to 18%) were disabled at 90 days. Baseline factors predicting disability as an outcome included being 60 years or older, having diabetes, having a premorbid modified Rankin Scale 1, having ongoing symptoms, having a CT/CTA-positive metric, or having positive diffusion-weighted imaging.
In the multivariable analysis, factors that predicted disability included ongoing symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 2.4; 95% CI, 1.3 to 4.4; P=0.004), diabetes (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.3; P=0.009), female sex (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3; P=0.025), and CT/CTA-positive metric (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4 to 4; P=0.001).
Of the 463 patients who did not have a recurrent event, 55 were disabled (12%). Of the 36 who did have a recurrent event, 19 (53%) patients were disabled (risk ratio, 4.4; 95% CI, 3 to 6.6; P<0.0001). Researchers noted that recurrent events are a very important surrogate for disability but are numerically not the major factor in predicting disability.
"There has been a general emphasis on recurrent events after minor stroke or TIA rather than on disability, yet disability is the accepted outcome after disabling stroke," researchers wrote. "Our study is novel in that it emphasizes the need to examine disability even in minor stroke and brings together … careful clinical assessments and imaging data to emphasize this point."
Restarting warfarin after GI bleeding associated with better outcomes
Patients previously on warfarin who don't resume the therapy soon after a gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding event may have a higher risk for thrombosis and death, according to a recent study.
Researchers from Kaiser Permanente Colorado performed a retrospective cohort study to examine time to resumption of anticoagulation and incidence of thrombosis, recurrent GI bleeding and death in the 90 days after a GI bleeding event. Clinical and administrative data were used to identify patients who developed GI bleeding while taking warfarin, stopped the therapy, and then did or did not restart it within 90 days. Outcomes were compared between the "resumed therapy" and "did not resume therapy" groups. The study results were published in the Oct. 22, 2012, Archives of Internal Medicine.
A total of 442 patients with an index event of warfarin-associated GI bleeding were included in the study. Approximately half of the patients were men, and the mean age was 74.2 years. Overall, 46.2% of patients had taken aspirin in the 90 days before their first GI bleeding event.
Two hundred sixty patients (58.8%) resumed warfarin therapy within 90 days of the index event, and 182 (41.2%) did not. Resuming warfarin therapy was associated with a lower adjusted risk for thrombosis and death (hazard ratios, 0.05 [95% CI, 0.01 to 0.58] and 0.31 [95% CI, 0.15 to 0.62], respectively) and did not appear to significantly increase the risk for recurrent GI bleeding (hazard ratio, 1.32 [95% CI, 0.50 to 3.57]).
The authors noted that they could not assess all of the factors involved in physicians' clinical decisions about therapy, that there is potential for confounding, and that they did not have data on aspirin use after the index bleeding event. However, they concluded that thrombosis and death after GI bleeding are more likely in patients who do not resume warfarin therapy within 90 days, and that the benefits of the therapy will outweigh the risk in many cases. They called for further research to determine the optimal interval of warfarin interruption after GI bleeding and to better define which patients can tolerate a longer interruption in therapy.
An accompanying editorial outlined three key findings from the study: Patients and physicians are usually willing to restart warfarin after GI bleeding; anticoagulation was usually restarted within a week of the bleeding event; and recurrent bleeding events, none of which were fatal, occurred at an acceptably low rate.
Based on the available data, the editorialists wrote, "We believe that most patients with warfarin-associated GI bleeding and indications for continued long-term antithrombotic therapy should resume anticoagulation within the first week following the hemorrhage, approximately 4 days afterward." However, they advised against also continuing antiplatelet therapy in these patients without a "compelling indication" to do so and said that the study's findings should not be applied to patients taking new anticoagulant agents, such as dabigatran and rivaroxaban.
VTE risk appears increased in patients with slightly low eGFR, albumin-creatinine ratio
Even mild kidney disease is associated with an increase in risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), a review found.
The pooled analysis of individual data included five prospective cohort studies of almost 100,000 people in Europe and the United States. A total of 1,178 VTEs occurred during the follow-up of about six years. Using Cox regression models, the researchers calculated that patients with decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) had a higher risk of VTE than patients with an eGFR of 100 mL/min/1.73 m2. The hazard ratio (HR) was 1.29 (95% CI, 1.04 to 1.59) for an eGFR of 75 mL/min/1.73 m2, 1.31 (95% CI, 1.00 to 1.71) for an eGFR of 60 mL/min/1.73m2, 1.82 (95% CI, 1.27 to 2.60) for an eGFR of 45 mL/min/1.73m2 and 1.95 (95% CI, 1.26 to 3.01) for an eGFR of 30 mL/min/1.73m2.
A worse albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) than 5.0 mg/g was also associated with higher risk of VTE: for 30 mg/g, the HR was 1.34 (95% CI, 1.04 to 1.72); for 300 mg/g, the HR was 1.60 (95% CI, 1.08 to 2.36); and for 1,000 mg/g, the HR was 1.92 (95% CI, 1.19 to 3.09). The associations of the two measurements with VTE were independent of each other and traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the researchers said. They concluded that both eGFR and ACR are associated with more VTE, even in normal ranges. The study was published in the Oct. 16, 2012, Circulation.
The results clarify previous inconsistent findings on this question, the authors said, and support the existence of a direct association between chronic kidney disease and VTE. That association may result from endothelial injury or changes in procoagulant proteins, they suggested. Because these levels of chronic kidney disease are prevalent in the general population and are more modifiable with medication than most VTE risk factors, some VTEs might be prevented by attention to this relationship. Future studies should assess the impact of drugs that improve albuminuria on VTE, the authors said.
Nonpayment for "preventable" infections didn't affect rates of infection
Withholding payment for bloodstream and urinary tract infections deemed preventable didn't have a measurable effect on infection rates in U.S. hospitals, a study found.
Researchers sought to determine the effect of a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) policy that, starting in October 2008, discontinued payment for some hospital-acquired conditions considered preventable. They used data from January 2006 through March 2011 to study changes in rates of central catheter-associated bloodstream infections and catheter-associated urinary tract infections—both targeted by the CMS policy. They compared these rates to those of ventilator-associated pneumonia, which was not targeted by the policy. Data came from 398 hospitals or health systems in 41 states. Results were published online Oct. 11, 2012, by the New England Journal of Medicine.
There were no significant changes in quarterly rates of central catheter–associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections or ventilator-associated pneumonia after the policy implementation (incidence-rate ratios in the post-implementation vs. pre-implementation period, 1.00, 1.03 and 0.99, respectively.) Findings didn't differ by whether a hospital was in a state with mandatory reporting, or by hospital size, type of ownership, teaching status, or quartile of percentage of Medicare admissions.
In fact, rates of targeted and untargeted infections began decreasing before the policy was implemented and continued to do so afterward, but without a significant change in the speed of decrease. When researchers limited their analysis to 155 hospital units in states without mandatory reporting of catheter-associated urinary tract infections, they found that implementing the CMS policy actually was associated with a significant slowing of decreases in catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates (relative rate, 1.06; P=0.03).
Possible explanations for the finding that the CMS policy didn't affect infection rates overall include that hospitals may have changed their billing practices, that quality-improvement efforts for the infections measured were already under way, or that the financial incentives at stake were too small, the authors said. "As CMS continues to expand this policy…careful evaluation is needed to determine when these programs work, when they have unintended consequences, and what might be done to improve patient outcomes," the authors concluded.
Two models may offer accurate assessment of GFR in older adults
Two models to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) may provide more accurate assessment of kidney function in older adults, a study found.
To derive the Berlin Initiative Study (BIS) equation, researchers designed a cross-sectional, random community-based population of 610 participants age 70 years or older (mean age, 78.5 years) from a large insurance company. Data were split for analysis into two sets for equation development and internal validation.
Two estimates of GFR were developed and validated, one based on creatinine only (BIS1) and one based on both creatinine and cystatin C measurements (BIS2). Iohexol plasma clearance was measured for the gold standard. Results appeared in the Oct. 2, 2012, Annals of Internal Medicine.
The new BIS2 equation yielded the smallest bias, followed by BIS1 and Cockcroft-Gault equations. All other equations considerably overestimated GFR.
The BIS equations confirmed a high prevalence of persons older than 70 years with a GFR less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (BIS1, 50.4%; BIS2, 47.4%; measured GFR, 47.9%). The total misclassification rate for this criterion was smallest for the BIS2 equation (11.6%), followed by the cystatin C equation 2 (15.1%) proposed by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration. Among the creatinine-based equations, BIS1 had the smallest misclassification rate (17.2%), followed by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation (20.4%).
Researchers noted that the BIS2 equation should be used to estimate GFR in persons age 70 years or older with normal or mild to moderately reduced kidney function. If cystatin C is not available, the BIS1 equation is an acceptable alternative.
"Compared with current creatinine-based or creatinine- and cystatin C-based equations, the new BIS1 and BIS2 equations showed better precision and excellent agreement with [measured]GFR, especially in a population with an [estimated]GFR greater than 30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (CKD [chronic kidney disease] stages 1 to 3)," researchers wrote. "This is important because a validated equation to estimate GFR in older adults, especially in cases of normal or only moderately reduced kidney function, has been lacking."
Also, researchers noted that older adults may be a unique population in which traditional assumptions about GFR are not necessarily true. In elderly participants, the MDRD study equation yielded higher estimated GFRs across CKD stages than did the CKD-EPI and especially the Cockcroft-Gault equation. This contrasts with the situation in younger adults in whom implementation of the CKD-EPI equation has reduced CKD prevalence, but agrees with current results seen in older adults.
"The most striking result was that incorporation of cystatin C in the equation decreased the effect of age and sex," researchers wrote. "This confirms the independence of cystatin C from age- and sex-associated conditions and may thus make it the preferred laboratory variable to be included in a GFR-estimating equation in an elderly population where reduction in muscle mass is common."
Benzodiazepines may confer dementia risk for elderly patients
Patients who started taking benzodiazepines after age 65 had a greater risk of developing dementia than those who never used the drugs, a study found.
Researchers examined 3,777 community-dwelling French people aged 65 years and older in a prospective cohort study on brain aging. They observed the subjects for three to five years in order to identify factors that led to benzodiazepine initiation, then followed up for 15 years. Eligible subjects (n=1,063, mean age 78.2 years) were dementia-free and didn't start taking benzodiazepines until at least the third year of follow up. The main outcome was incident dementia confirmed by a neurologist. Results were published online by BMJ Sept. 27, 2012.
Nearly nine percent (n=95) of patients started taking benzodiazepines during the study. These new users were more likely to be single or widowed, have less education, have more significant depressive symptoms, use antihypertensives, use platelet inhibitors or oral anticoagulants, and to consume wine less regularly.
About 24% (n=253) of all patients developed dementia, including 30 benzodiazepine users and 223 non-users. Starting benzodiazepines was associated with a significant increase in the risk of developing dementia (hazard ratio [HR], 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.08 to 2.38), a result that was basically unchanged when adjusted for depressive symptoms (HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.08 to 2.43). The incidence rate of dementia was 4.8 per 100 person years in the group that took benzodiazepines vs. 3.2 per 100 person years in the non-using group.
Benzodiazepines are useful for treating acute anxiety and persistent insomnia, but evidence is mounting that their use may have adverse outcomes in the elderly including falls, fall-related fractures and now dementia, the authors wrote. "Physicians should carefully assess the expected benefits of the use of benzodiazepines" and limit prescriptions to a few weeks when possible, they said. "In particular, uncontrolled chronic use of benzodiazepines in elderly people should be cautioned against," they wrote.
Moderate or severe hypoglycemia associated with mortality risk in the ICU
Moderate or severe hypoglycemia in the intensive care unit (ICU) was significantly associated with mortality, according to a recent analysis of the NICE-SUGAR trial.
The Normoglycemia in Intensive Care Evaluation-Survival Using Glucose Algorithm Regulation (NICE-SUGAR) trial randomly assigned intensive care patients to either intensive (mean blood glucose level, 115 mg/dL) or conventional (mean blood glucose level, 144 mg/dL) blood glucose control, and results were published in 2009. This new analysis provides more detail on the associations between intensive control and hypoglycemia and mortality found in the original study. The analysis appeared in the Sept. 20, 2012, New England Journal of Medicine.
Of the about 6,000 patients studied, 45% had moderate hypoglycemia, defined as a blood glucose level 41 to 70 mg/dL; 82% of them were in the intensive control group. Severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose level ≤40 mg/dL) occurred in 3.7% of patients (93% of them in the intensive group). Mortality was higher among the patients with severe hypoglycemia (35.4% mortality rate; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] for death, 2.10) and moderate hypoglycemia (28.5%; HR, 1.41) than in those with no hypoglycemia (23.5%; HR, 1). Patients also had a higher risk of dying if they had moderate hypoglycemia on more than one day or had severe hypoglycemia while not taking insulin.
Intensive glucose control leads to hypoglycemia, which in turn is associated with increased risk of death in critically ill patients, the researchers concluded. They noted the existence of a dose-response relationship but cautioned that the data cannot establish a causal relationship. However, a causal relationship would be "plausible," according to the researchers, and is consistent with the finding that hypoglycemic patients were significantly more likely to die of distributive shock.
It is also possible that the hypoglycemia was a marker rather than a cause of death, at least in some cases, such as the patients not taking insulin whose hypoglycemia likely resulted from underlying disease processes. Still, the authors concluded that critical care clinicians should work to avoid hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia in their patients, and follow current guidelines for a blood glucose target of 144 to 180 mg/dL. An accompanying editorial noted that the study showed the difficulty of implementing insulin protocols and accurately monitoring glucose. The editorialist expressed hope that new technologies will make this easier in the future.
Thrombocytosis in CAP brings mortality, respiratory risks
Patients with thrombocytosis in the setting of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are at higher risk of poor outcome, complicated pleural effusion and empyema than those with a normal platelet count, a study found.
Researchers assessed consecutive patients age 14 years or older who were hospitalized with CAP between January 2000 and October 2006 at two hospitals in Spain. A total of 2,423 subjects met inclusion criteria and had platelet count available at admission; 53 patients (2%) had thrombocytopenia, 204 (8%) had thrombocytosis, and 2,166 (90%) had a normal platelet count. Thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis were defined as platelet counts <10/mm3 and ≥ 4×105/mm3, respectively. Researchers calculated the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) and the Confusion, Respiratory rate and Blood pressure plus age ≥65 years (CRB-65) score at admission. They excluded patients with immunosuppression, neoplasm, active tuberculosis or hematological disease. Results were published online Sept. 10, 2012, by Chest.
Thrombocytosis patients were younger (P<0.001) while those with thrombocytopenia more often had chronic heart and liver disease (P<0.001 for both). Thrombocytosis patients presented more frequently with respiratory complications such as complicated pleural effusion and empyema (P<0.001), while those with thrombocytopenia presented more often with severe sepsis (P<0.001), septic shock (P=0.009), need for invasive mechanical ventilation (P<0.001) and intensive care unit admission (P=0.011).
Both patients with thrombocytosis and thrombocytopenia had longer hospital stays (P=0.004), higher 30-day mortality (P=0.001) and higher readmission rates (P=0.011) than those with normal platelet counts, with no significant differences between thrombocytosis and thrombocytopenia patients. Multivariate analysis confirmed a significant association between thrombocytosis and 30-day mortality (odds ratio, 2.720; P<0.001). Adding thrombocytosis to the CRB-65 score also improved accuracy in predicting mortality (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve increase from 0.634 to 0.654; P=0.049).
The study results indicate that platelet count should be monitored in patients with CAP, the authors wrote. Thrombocytopenic patients should be watched for possible septic complications and hemodynamic alterations, while thrombocytosis patients should be watched for respiratory complications like pleural effusion that may need treatment like drainage, they wrote. Since the study has shown thrombocytosis to be a marker of poor outcome in CAP, it should be considered in the severity evaluation of CAP patients, they concluded.
Wells score, negative D-dimer test can rule out pulmonary embolism in primary care patients
A Wells score of 4 or lower and a negative qualitative D-dimer test result can safely and efficiently exclude pulmonary embolism, a recent study found.
Researchers conducted a prospective cohort study among 300 primary care doctors in the Netherlands, providing them with study forms and written instruction on how to use the D-dimer test from July 2007 to December 2010. Results appeared in the Oct. 9, 2012, BMJ.
There were 598 patients considered, with a mean age of 48 years, 71% of whom were women. Venous thromboembolism was present in 73 patients (12.2%), with 68 cases of pulmonary embolism diagnosed immediately after referral. Four additional cases of pulmonary embolism and one deep vein thrombosis were found during three months of follow up.
Overall, 422 patients had a Wells score of 4 or less and 237 had a score of less than 2. Venous thromboembolism was present in 21 (5%; 95% CI, 3.1% to 7.5%) and 7 (3%; 95% CI, 1.2% to 6%) of these patients, respectively. Venous thromboembolism occurred in 52 patients with a Wells score of greater than 4 (29.5%; 95% CI, 22.9% to 36.9%).
In total, 272 of the patients had both a Wells score of 4 or lower and a negative D-dimer test result, and only four of them were diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, a failure rate of 1.5% (95% CI, 0.4% to 3.7%). A failure rate of less than 2% is considered safe by most consensus statements, researchers noted. The combination of Wells score and D-dimer had a sensitivity of 94.5% and a specificity of 51%.
"Such a rule-out strategy makes it possible for primary care doctors to safely exclude pulmonary embolism in a large proportion of patients suspected of having the condition, thereby reducing the costs and burden to the patient (for example, reducing the risk of contrast nephropathy associated with spiral computed tomography) associated with an unnecessary referral to secondary care," the researchers concluded.
Fast action, individualized treatment necessary in fungal meningitis outbreak
A research letter and an opinion piece published in Annals of Internal Medicine on Dec. 4, 2012, provided details and guidance on caring for patients in the recent outbreak of fungal meningitis due to contaminated methylprednisolone.
The research letter detailed the case of one of the index patients in the outbreak, a 51-year-old woman who sought care in the emergency department for a headache after receiving a steroid injection in her neck. The patient had not received previous injections, was not immunocompromised, and was not taking any long-term medications. She was discharged after a normal physical exam and head CT but returned the next day with neurological symptoms and was hospitalized. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she died on hospital day 10.
Exserohilum species was found in the patient's cerebrospinal fluid, and autopsy revealed severe damage to her brain and spinal cord. The authors stressed that this case demonstrates the aggressive, invasive nature of Exserohilum species as well as its short incubation time. Rapid recognition and treatment are necessary, they said, to limit morbidity and mortality.
The opinion piece was written by a physician who treated patients during another fungal meningitis outbreak, involving Exophiala dermatitidis and also due to contaminated methylprednisolone, in 2002. Voriconazole, which was used successfully in the 2002 outbreak, appears to be the logical drug of choice in the current outbreak as well, but the author stressed that exact dosing, outcomes, and drug level monitoring have not been determined and must be based on expert opinion.
"Individual physicians cannot wait for definitive answers and must act decisively at an early stage of infection," he wrote. Appropriate duration of therapy, use of empirical voriconazole and screening methods are also unknown and management will need to be individualized according to each patient's circumstances, he said.
The author reminded readers about the "importance of sterility and the powerful disease-producing interactions between corticosteroids and fungi" and stressed that regulation of pharmacy compounding at state and national levels will need to be revisited.
Less chloride in IVs lowered rate of creatinine increase, dialysis
Reducing use of chloride-rich intravenous (IV) fluids reduced creatinine levels and risk of acute kidney injury in a recent study of critically ill patients.
The prospective, open-label study included about 1,500 intensive care unit (ICU) patients admitted to one Australian hospital. Half the patients were treated during a six-month period in which the ICU provided standard IV fluids. The second half (admitted over six months the following year) were treated with a chloride-restrictive strategy. Under that strategy, an attending specialist had to approve any use of chloride-rich IV fluids (0.9% saline, 4% succinylated gelatin solution or 4% albumin solution). Otherwise, patients received a lactate solution (Hartmann solution), a balanced solution (Plasma-Lyte 148) and a chloride-poor 20% albumin. Results appeared in the Oct. 17, 2012, Journal of the American Medical Association.
Comparing the two periods, researchers found a smaller mean increase in serum creatinine from baseline to peak level in the chloride-restricted patients (22.6 µmol/L vs.14.8 µmol/L; P=0.03). Those patients also had less acute kidney injury, as measured by the RIFLE classification (14% vs. 8.4% [P<0.001]), and less need for renal replacement therapy (10% vs. 6.3%; P=0.005). Both of these differences remained significant after adjustment for other factors. Study authors concluded that a chloride-restrictive strategy was associated with a significant decrease in incidence of acute kidney injury and use of renal replacement therapy.
The findings are in keeping with earlier observational evidence, the authors noted. There are multiple possible mechanisms for this result, and the study was not designed to identify a specific one. As a bundle-of-care study, the trial also couldn't definitively show which part of the intervention was responsible for the results. In addition to the chloride restriction, using a balanced solution, removing the gelatin solution, or changing the albumin solutions could have affected the outcomes.
The study was limited by its unblinded design, and restricting chloride could pose risks for patients with hyponatremia, alkalemia, cerebral edema or traumatic brain injury, the authors noted. But the current findings, as well as the higher cost of chloride-rich IV solutions, argues for prudence in the use of these fluids in the ICU, especially in patients at risk of renal dysfunction, they concluded.
ACIP: pneumococcal vaccine schedule outlined for high-risk adults
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) outlined recommendations and dosing regimens for the use of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
ACIP issued the recommendation June 20, 2012, and it was given a Category A recommendation according to the report published in the Oct. 12, 2012, MMWR.
There should be routine use of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13; Prevnar 13, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) for those age 19 years or older with immunocompromising conditions, functional or anatomic asplenia, cerebrospinal fluid leaks or cochlear implants. PCV13 should be administered to eligible adults in addition to the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23; Pneumovax 23, Merck & Co.), which is also recommended for this patient population.
This population should receive a dose of PCV13 first, followed by a dose of PPSV23 at least eight weeks later. Subsequent doses of PPSV23 should follow current PPSV23 recommendations for adults at high risk.
Additionally, those who received PPSV23 before age 65 years for any indication should receive another dose of the vaccine at age 65 years, or later if at least five years have elapsed since their previous PPSV23 dose.
Those who previously received at least one dose of PPSV23 should be given a PCV13 dose a year or later after the previous PPSV23 dose. For those who require additional doses of PPSV23, the first such dose should be given no sooner than eight weeks after PCV13 and at least five years after the most recent dose of PPSV23.
All adults are eligible for a dose of PPSV23 at age 65 years, regardless of previous PPSV23 vaccination; however, a minimum interval of five years between PPSV23 doses should be maintained.
These summaries come from ACP HospitalistWeekly, an e-newsletter provided every Wednesday by ACP Hospitalist. To receive it, call Customer Service at 800-543-1546, ext. 2600, or direct at 215-351-2600 (M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST); send an email; or subscribe online.
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Stanisław Wojciech Bergman (13 April 1862, Krosno - 28 August 1930, Krosno) was a Polish painter of historical scenes, genre scenes, portraits and still-lifes.

Biography
He was born to a wealthy bourgeois family. From 1879 to 1885, he studied at the Kraków Academy of Fine Arts with Jan Matejko, who had a decisive influence on his style. He then won a scholarship that allowed him to study at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, from 1885 to 1887. by Otto Seitz and Sandor Wagner.

When he returned to Kraków, he received a small workshop at the Academy, where he assisted Matejko with his classes in composition and was awarded a degree in 1888. Three years later, he went back to Krosno, where he was married and began to turn away from historical themes. He also joined the Sokol gymnastic movement and became one of the first members of "Sztuka", an art society.

From 1909 to the end of World War I, he and his family lived in Vienna. When they once again returned to Krosno, they moved into a house designed for them by Jan Sas Zubrzycki, which still retains some of Bergman's decorative touches.

In additional to historical paintings, he created portraits of eminent townspeople and fashionable ladies and was fond of painting flowers. In his later years, under the influence of Impressionism, his palette brightened considerably. Many of his works are in the National Museum, Krakow, and the Museum of Independence (historical scenes). A major retrospective was held at the "Muzeum Podkarpackie" (Sub-Carpathian Museum) in Krosno from 2010 to 2011.

References

Further reading
 Anna Guz, Stanisław Wojciech Bergman: wybitny malarz krośnieński, Muzeum Podkarpackie w Krośnie, 2011

External links

 Exhibition review @ Krosno24
 Munich Fine Arts Academy

19th-century Polish painters
19th-century Polish male artists
20th-century Polish painters
20th-century Polish male artists
1862 births
1930 deaths
People from Krosno
History painters
Genre painters
Polish male painters

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Brewers relief pitcher Will Smith is part of a bullpen that has one of baseball's best strikeout rates.
The Milwaukee Brewers begin a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Miller Park on Friday and, despite the latter having the worst record in baseball at 46-69, it may not be a cakewalk.
Philadelphia has been playing exceptionally well over the past month, going 17-7 so far in the second half. After owning MLB's worst record before the All-Star break, the Phillies are attempting to become just the 11th team in history to post a .500 or better winning percentage the rest of the way.
At their current pace, they'd have the best post-break record among those teams.
One of the main reasons for that success has been the Phillies' resilience, not typically a trait of a last-place team. They've trailed at some point in 10 of those 17 wins, which is the most comeback victories in the majors since the All-Star Break.
The Brewers, meanwhile, are coming off a sweep against the Chicago Cubs and have just two more wins this season than the Phillies. But don't blame the improved pitching staff, which is holding opponents to a .704 OPS since the All-Star break, one of the best marks in baseball during that time.
Philadelphia, too, has seen an improvement by its pitchers in the second half.
Milwaukee's bullpen, which has been a strength all year, has gotten even better — at least in terms of whiffs. Brewers relievers have an MLB-best 28.4 percent strikeout rate since the All-Star break, as Will Smith, Michael Blazek, Neal Cotts, Jeremy Jeffress, Francisco Rodriguez and others pile up the Ks.
The Brewers will need their bullpen to get plenty of strikeouts because the Phillies have shown they've got no problem coming back late to win games.


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X-Ray Inspection
What Does X-Ray Inspection Mean?
An X-ray inspection is a non-destructive inspection method that uses radiography and is mainly used to identify CUI (corrosion under insulation).
Corrosionpedia Explains X-Ray Inspection
X-ray inspection is a real-time digital imaging system used to detect corrosion under insulation (CUI). Traditionally, to carry out such an inspection, sample areas would have to be identified within the circuit where insulation had to be removed and inspections carried out, which can be time-consuming, costly, and ineffective.
This method utilizes the principle of radiography. The principle of inspection is based on the absorption of gamma radiation in the tested material. A collimated beam of Gadolinium 153 isotopes is used as the source and the photons emitted from the source are received at a receiver. The source and detector are kept external to the pipe and positioned on opposite sides at a fixed distance apart. Gamma rays travel from the source through the pipe to the detector where the photons are received are counted. Proprietary software specially developed for this equipment converts the photon counts and displays a graphical image that corresponds to the pipe's condition. The scan can reveal density variations caused by corrosion, welds, wet insulation, blockages and any other change in density.
Advantages of x-ray inspection:
No need for costly insulation removal
No physical contact is required with the piping and so even high-temperature pipes can be inspected online, meaning no temperature, weather or surface condition limitations.
No need for surface preparation
Even non-magnetic, non-metallic pipes can be inspected.
Can detect wet insulation, which in turn will lead to CUI
Can detect internal erosion/corrosion and gives absolute values of remaining wall thickness
Deposit Corrosion
Corrosion Under Insulation
Subsurface Corrosion
Radiographic Inspection
Inspection and Test Plan
Real-time Radiography
Corrosion Under Insulation: The Challenge and Need for Insulation
The 4 Best Nondestructive Inspection Methods for Corrosion Under Insulation
Ultrasonic Crack Inspection: How to Avoid Pipeline Failures
A Look at Digital Radiography for Corrosion Inspection
Corrosion Scale Analysis for Piping Specimens
CorrosionPreventionBelow GroundUnder InsulationInspectionCorrosion TestingEquipmentProceduresGeneral EquipmentMeasurementGeneral Procedures