Search results for "units"

DEA-like Models for the Efficiency Evaluation of Hierarchically Structured Units

2004

Abstract The knowledge of the internal structure of decision making units (DMUs) gives further insights with respect to the “black box” perspective when considering data envelopment analysis models. We present one-level and two-level hierarchical structures of the DMUs under evaluation. Each unit is composed of consecutive stages of parallel subunits all with constant returns to scale. In particular, the maximization of the relative efficiency of a DMU is studied. For the two-stage situation, different degrees of coordination among the subunits of the hierarchical levels are discussed. When some form of coordination has to be guaranteed, we introduce balancing constraints and we compare two…

Anomalous water dynamics in brain: a combined diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and neutron scattering investigation

2019

International audience; Water diffusion is an optimal tool for investigating the architecture of brain tissue on which modern medical diagnostic imaging techniques rely. However, intrinsic tissue heterogeneity causes systematic deviations from pure free-water diffusion behaviour. To date, numerous theoretical and empirical approaches have been proposed to explain the non-Gaussian profile of this process. The aim of this work is to shed light on the physics piloting water diffusion in brain tissue at the micrometre-to-atomic scale. Combined diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and first pioneering neutron scattering experiments on bovine brain tissue have been performed in order to probe dif…

Monitoring temporal changes in the spatial patterns of a Mediterranean shrubland using Landsat TM images

2001

Summary The overall goal of this study is to understand the structure and function of a Mediterranean shrubland at landscape scale by means of satellite images and GIS. Specifically, to assess the sensitivity of several spatial statistics to characterise landscape pattern, measure fragmentation and quantify the change through time. We study the landscape structure of a Mediterranean shrubland located in the east part of Spain (Valencia) and the change in spatial patterns of different shrubs types from 1984 to 1994. To accomplish these objectives, we used 10 Landsat™ images from 1984 to 1994 (except 1988) to which a geometric correction and an atmospheric normalization was applied. In additi…

Prevention of nosocomial infections and surveillance of emerging resistances in NICU

2011

Neonates hospitalized in NICU are at risk for healthcare associated infections because of their poor immune defenses, related to gestational age, colonization of mucous membranes and skin with nosocomial microorganisms, exposure to antibiotics, invasive procedures and frequent contacts with healthcare workers (HCWs). Healthcare associated infections are the major source of morbidity and mortality in NICU in the developed world. Most infections are caused by Gram-positive organisms, fulminant sepsis are often associated to Gram-negative organisms, fungal sepsis occurs frequently in ELBW infants. Hand hygiene is the most important preventive procedure, nevertheless hand hygiene compliance amo…

Characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii from intensive care units and home care patients in Palermo, Italy.

2011

AbstractIn this study 45 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii identified from patients in intensive care units of three different hospitals and from pressure ulcers in home care patients in Palermo, Italy, during a 3-month period in 2010, were characterized. All isolates were resistant to at least three classes of antibiotics, but susceptible to colistin and tygecycline. Forty isolates were non-susceptible to carbapenems. Eighteen and two isolates, respectively, carried the blaOXA-23-like and the blaOXA-58-like genes. One strain carried the VIM-4 gene. Six major rep-PCR subtype clusters were defined, including isolates from different hospitals or home care patients. The sequence type/pulsed …

Performance of existing definitions and tests for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in critically ill, non-neutropenic, adult patients: An upda…

2022

Outbreak of multi-resistant Corynebacterium striatum infection in an Italian general intensive care unit.

2007

Outbreak of infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type 258 producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase 3 in an intensive care unit in Italy

2010

Gram-negative pathogens producing carbapenemases represent an alarming clinical threat with serious effects on patient outcomes ([3][1], [7][2]). In 2001, Yigit et al. ([11][3]) reported a novel β-lactamase termed “ K lebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase” (KPC-1) in North Carolina. KPC-producing

Containment of a Large SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Among Healthcare Workers in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

2020

Objective Healthcare workers (HCWs) are particularly exposed SARS-CoV-2 because they are critical in preventing viral transmission and treating COVID-19 patients. Within HCWs, personnel of intensive care units (ICUs) are at the forefront of treating patients with a severe course of COVID-19 infection and therefore represent an extremely vulnerable group. Thus, our objective is to contribute to establish means of infection control protecting HCWs in the frontline of the current pandemic. Design An outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 was detected and contained in a pediatric ICU (PICU). The first positive case was identified with a point-of-care diagnostic system on site. Real-time PCR-based testing syste…

Anidulafungin dosing in critically ill patients with continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration

2014

Background Anidulafungin is indicated as a first-line treatment for invasive candidiasis in critically ill patients. In the intensive care unit, sepsis is the main cause of acute renal failure, and treatment with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has increased in recent years. Antimicrobial pharmacokinetics is affected by CRRT, but few studies have addressed the optimal dosage for anidulafungin during CRRT. Patients and methods We included 12 critically ill patients who received continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration to treat acute renal failure. Anidulafungin was infused on 3 consecutive days, starting with a loading dose (200 mg) on Day 1, and doses of 100 mg on Days 2 and 3. …