The Vertex Separator Problem for a graph is to find the smallest collection of vertices whose removal breaks the graph into two disconnected subsets that satisfy specified size constraints. The Vertex Separator Problem was formulated in the paper 10.1016/j.ejor.2014.05.042 as a continuous (non-concave/non-convex) bilinear quadratic program. In this paper, we develop a more general continuous bi...

The objective of this study is to compare Polydioxanone (PDS) and Polypropylene (PPL) suture material for fascial closure,in midline abdominal incisions using interrupted X sutures in terms of postoperative wound complications. Patients for clinical study were selected from the surgical wards of Mc-Gann Teaching and District Hospital, SIMS from Jan 2012 to Dec 2013 with the following inclusion ...

We present a system of interrelated conjectures which can be considered as restricted addition counterparts of classical theorems due to Kneser, Kemperman, and Scherk. Connections with the theorem of Cauchy-Davenport, conjecture of ErdősHeilbronn, and polynomial method of Alon-Nathanson-Ruzsa are discussed. The paper assumes no expertise from the reader and can serve as an introduction to the s...

We study separating equilibria (SE) in pure signaling games in which both type and signaling spaces aremultidimensional, the sender payoff is quasi-linear and receiver utility is independent of the signal (pure signaling case). We show for a large class of cost functions that a sender’s strategy constitutes an SE if and only if it satisfies a certain set of conditions. In particular, we show th...

Background: Polypropylene meshes are commonly used in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, although they may cause complications. In this prospective study, a polyester mesh was compared to a polypropylene mesh. Methods: Transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) laparoscopic repair was performed in 160 consecutive male patients suffering from unilateral inguinal hernia. The first 80 cases received a ...

Maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene was compounded with commercially available surface-modified montmorillonite in a twin-screw extruder. Recompounding ensured the removal of visible tactoids from the extrudate but TEM and XRD techniques showed nonuniform dispersion of clay platelets. In this study, we investigated the mechanical and fracture properties of nanoclayfilled polypropylene. Emph...

The ideal battery separator would be infinitesimally thin, offer no resistance to ionic transport in electrolytes, provide infinite resistance to electronic conductivity for isolation of electrodes, be highly tortuous to prevent dendritic growths, and be inert to chemical reactions. Unfortunately, in the real world the ideal case does not exist. Real world separators are electronically insulati...

Since Becker (3), a common argument against asymmetric norms that promote minority rights over those of the majority is that such policies reduce total welfare. While this may be the case, we show that there are simple environments where aggregate sum of individual utilities is actually maximized under asymmetric norms that favor minorities. We thus maintain that without information regarding i...

PURPOSE To evaluate if latex coated polypropylene mesh leads to less adhesions formation. METHODS 90 rats were distributed in three groups. Group I (control) was submitted to median laparotomy and posterior synthesis; Group II (polypropylene) was submitted to a segment resection of the abdominal wall, and the defect was corrected with a polypropylene mesh; Group III using the new material (la...