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Background: One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB) is becoming popular, but some patients may need to convert to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) due weight-related difficulties or postoperative complications. The data on conversions is currently limited to 30-day or short-term follow-up studies. As such, the objective of this study was to evaluate the indications and mid-term outcomes for OAGB conversions to RYGB at a tertiary referral center in the United Arab Emirates. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent conversion from OAGB to RYGB between February 2016 and May 2023. Demographic information, indications for conversion, intraoperative details, and mid-term outcomes were collected and analyzed. Results: Sixty-four patients underwent conversion from previous OAGB to RYGB. The cohort was 73.4% female (n = 47) with a mean age of 40.8 years. Indications for conversion included acid reflux (n = 28, 43.7%), intractable nausea/vomiting (n = 20, 31.2%), protein-calorie malnutrition (n = 7, 10.9%), anastomotic ulcer (n = 6, 9.3%) and weight recidivism (n = 3, 4.7%). The mean operative time was 238 ± 78.3 min. During the procedure, three intraoperative complications occurred: two cases of bleeding and one case of bowel perforation; all successfully addressed during surgery. The median hospital stay was 3 ± 15.8 days. Three patients (4.6%) experienced major postoperative complications comprising 2 anastomotic leaks and 1 small bowel obstruction. The mean follow-up time was 26.2 ± 19.7 months, with 96.2% of patients reporting resolution of symptoms. There were no mortalities. Conclusions: Acid reflux is representing 43.7% of the indications for conversion from OAGB to RYGB. The symptom resolution rate holds significance, standing at a remarkable 96.8%. Despite surgical technique advancements, the complication rate after conversions remains significant at 4.6%, with no mortality reported. OAGB patients should be informed about these risks prior to undergoing conversions from OAGB to RYGB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To report and evaluate risk factors for conversion and perioperative and long-term outcomes in dogs undergoing thoracoscopic lung lobectomy for resection of lung masses. ANIMALS 61 client-owned dogs. METHODS This retrospective cohort study (June 11, 2008, to February 14, 2020) of data collected from medical records included signalment, results of diagnostic imaging, surgical technique, surgical and anesthesia time, mass location and size, hospitalization time, histopathologic findings, and long-term outcome. Follow-up was obtained from medical records and telephone contact with owners or referring veterinarians. RESULTS Histopathology results were available for 60 of 61 tumors. Fifty-seven (95%) were considered primary lung tumors, of which 46 (81%) were carcinomas. Clean surgical margins were achieved in 46 of 52 (88%) dogs. Conversion from thoracoscopy to thoracoscopic-assisted or open surgery occurred in 16 of 61 (26%) dogs. Larger tumor diameter (2 5 cm) and Iymphadenopathy detected by preoperative CT scan were significantly associated with increased risk of conversion. There was no association between conversion and patient weight, body condition score, and tumor location. All 61 dogs survived to discharge, and 56 of 57 were alive 1 month postoperatively. Median overall survival time was 311 days (95% Cl, 224 to 570 days). Tracheobronchial Iymphadenopathy on preoperative CT scans was associated with shorter postoperative survival (P < .001). Patient age, tumor diameter, adjuvant chemotherapy following surgery, and incomplete margins were not associated with survival time. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Dogs had high survival to discharge and good long-term prognosis following thoracoscopic lung lobectomy. However, larger tumor size and tracheobronchial Iymphadenopathy may increase the likelihood of conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to provide a nuanced understanding of early modern religious history, the metaphors of 'border' and 'layer' have proved particularly useful. This article proposes utilizing Nicolai Hartmann's ontology and Helmuth Plessner's anthropology to deepen our comprehension of these metaphors. It also highlights the existence of competing metaphors, such as 'confessional osmosis,' which can mislead or downplay personal agency. To test the efficacy of stratigraphic metaphors, two case studies are presented: the multi-confessional city and multiple conversions. These case studies demonstrate how stratigraphic metaphors can capture the simultaneity of the simultaneous, commonalities and differences within the lives of historical agents. The conversions of the nun Martha Zitter provide a particularly insightful illustration for the use of such metaphors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is the dominant bariatric procedure, studies have shown conversion rates of up to 30%. These conversions are generally for weight regain (WR), insufficient weight loss (IWL) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Before 2020, details on why conversions were being performed were not collected in the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) Participant Use Data File (PUF). Now, the indication for sleeve conversion is noted in the PUF, allowing identification and reporting sleeve conversion reasons. We aimed to examine the reasons for SG conversions nationwide. The 2020 MBSAQIP PUF. The 2020 MBSAQIP PUF was examined to determine the reasons why SG were converted to other operations. The data field of "Revision/Conversion Final Indication" was used along with "Procedure type." Primary bariatric operations were excluded. Descriptive statistics were applied. Different reasons for conversion and operations were compared by preoperative characteristics and operative outcomes. There were 103,782 primary SG reported in the 2020 PUF. There were 7181 SG that were converted to other operations. The most common conversion (86.2%) was to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The main reason for SG conversion was GERD at 48.4%, followed by WR/IWL (41.9%). Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch and single-anastomosis duodenoileal bypass with sleeve patients differed significantly from RYGB patients in specific preoperative characteristics and operative outcomes. The most common procedure SG is converted to is the RYGB. GERD was the most common reason for SG conversion, followed by WR/IWL. • The most common conversion procedure is SG to RYGB. • The main reason for SG conversion is GERD followed by WR/IWL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is concern over the learning and teaching of mathematics in South Africa. The aim of this study was to explore high school mathematics teachers' conceptual difficulties in trigonometry and coordinate geometry. The participants were in-service teachers (n = 236), who were enrolled in an in-service programme at a South African university. The research instrument was based on a previous Grade 12 national mathematics paper. The study used Duval's theory on semiotic systems to try to understand the teachers' difficulties experienced with the content. Ethical clearance was obtained from the university research office for the collection of data. All participants provided informed consent to participate in the study. The study used a mixed methods approach where the quantitative data was first analysed. Thereafter a content analysis was conducted on 50 scripts to gain insight into the areas which presented challenges to the teachers. The results showed that the teachers obtained an average of 55% overall in the items. The average for the trigonometry and coordinate geometry was 52% and 61% respectively. The study suggests that teachers need more support in mastering the Grade 12 content and developing representational fluency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this viewpoint article, we analyse the heated controversy that unfolded in 2022 over who should be considered Goa's patron saint: St. Francis Xavier or Bhagwan Parshuram. The controversy was sparked by a Hindu right organization named Hindu Raksha Maha Aghadi and its release of what it – with allusions to Vivek Agnihotri's blockbuster 'The Kashmir files' – presented as 'the Goa files'. These files ostensibly sought to bring to light the forced conversion of Goans to Catholicism under colonial rule, alongside other atrocities committed by Portuguese colonialists during their 450 years of rule in Goa. Taking our point of departure in an analysis of the contemporary symbolisms and political uses of Lord Parshuram both within and beyond Goa, coupled with an examination of the activities of Hindu nationalist groups in the state, we show how the campaign centred on Lord Parshuram and the 'Goa Files' were intended to produce communal polarization and further the Hindutva agenda in Goa. In this regard, political developments in India's smallest state mirror broader national trends where the line between the mainstream Hindu nationalism of the BJP and the more radical 'fringe groups' is becoming increasingly blurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we explored the possibilities for observing the angular momentum alignment-to-orientation conversion (AOC) in the ground state of various alkali metals: K, Rb, Cs. For theoretical analysis we used a model that is based on the Optical Bloch equations for the density matrix. In our model we took into account the interaction of the laser light with all hyperfine levels, which are mixed as the magnetic field increases. The radiation's coherence properties were also included. Finally, the results were averaged over the Doppler profile. Additionally we simulated signals where the ground- or the excited-state coherent processes were numerically switched off in order to determine the origins of the features of the obtained signals. We also performed experiments on Cs atoms with two laser beams: a linearly polarized Cs D 1 pump and circularly polarized Cs D 2 probe. We used the pump beam to create angular momentum alignment in the ground state and observed the transmission signal of the probe beam as we changed the magnetic field. A detailed analysis of the experimentally obtained transmission signal from a single circularly polarized probe laser component is provided. Finally, prospects for observing AOC experimentally are discussed, as well as experiments were even a weak AOC signal could lead to systematic errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper will discuss an important target variable in value-based management: the Economic Value Added (or EVA). EVA is a measure of a company's financial performance based on the residual wealth calculated by deducting its cost of capital from its operating profit, adjusted for taxes on a cash basis. EVA can also be referred to as economic profit, as it attempts to capture the true economic profit of a company. This measure was devised by management consulting firm Stern Value Management, originally incorporated as Stern Stewart & Co. This research will also discuss adjustments and different types of assumptions that are necessary for the calculation as well as how to use them properly to obtain an interpretable result. Paper will explain the formula and which conversions should be considered. It remains to be noted that the EVA concept only leads to small progress from a scientific point of view, but that the clever marketing by Stern & Stewart has initiated a renaissance of the underlying residual profit concept. The paper provides practitioners and academics with a good overview of the demonstrable added value of EVA controlling and, in contrast, also illustrates the weaknesses of the calculation model or the inaccuracy due to interpretation variables, which overall limit the value of EVA as a management key performance indicator. The research includes comprehensive and substantial discussion in the scientific literature on EVA and its interpretation.

Background: There are inadequate data on the optimal strategy for transitioning factor Xa inhibitors (FXai; apixaban, rivaroxaban) to unfractionated heparin (UFH) infusions. Objective: In patients transitioning from an FXai to an UFH infusion, this study compared the safety and efficacy of monitoring UFH infusions using an activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) titration scale versus utilizing an UFH-calibrated anti-Xa titration scale aided by a novel institutional guideline. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on adult patients transitioning from an FXai to an UFH infusion at 2 medical centers from June 1, 2018, to November 1, 2020. One institution utilized aPTT while the other institution primarily used UFH-calibrated anti-Xa. The primary endpoint was a composite of death, major bleeding, or new thrombosis during the hospitalization with a planned noninferiority analysis. Secondary outcomes were also collected including the amount and duration of UFH administered between cohorts. Results: The incidence rate of the primary composite endpoint was 6.3% in the anti-Xa group and 11% in the aPTT group (P < 0.001 for noninferiority, P = 0.138 for superiority) meeting noninferiority criteria. No statistical differences were seen in new thrombosis, major bleeding, or any bleeding. Conclusion and Relevance: This represents the first report of a comparison between aPTT versus anti-Xa monitoring in relation to clinical outcomes for patients transitioning from an FXai to an UFH infusion. A transition guideline primarily utilizing an UFH-calibrated anti-Xa assay appears to be a safe alternative to aPTT monitoring and can aid facilities in the management of patients during these complex transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jews settled in three coastal towns of the medieval diocese of Koper (Capodistria) – Koper, Izola and Piran – at the end of the 14th century. They came there stimulated by the needs of cities that, after the collapse of Tuscan banks, did not have the financial sources to support the developing economy. In addition to some bankers who are fairly well known from archival sources, we also have to consider a layer of the poorer population of servants and merchants. These were relatively small communities composed of few families, which were tolerated in a distinctly Catholic environment, but in close contact with the majority population sometimes received a benevolent or even aggressive pressure to convert. For studied region, there is no systematic study about this topic yet. However, there are some archival or written sources related to it in one way or another. Although these are mostly short notes or remarks within other discussions, which certainly do not represent the whole background of these stories, they still give us some idea of the dynamics of that kind of relations between religious communities and at the same time the formal position of the Venetian and local authorities about conversions and freedom of faith between 15th and 18th century.

Concerns over rising office vacancy rates and falling office building property values in many urban areas have increased the pressure on cities and developers to consider converting underused office space to residential use. To aid in current and future conversations surrounding the feasibility of conversion, we look to the recent past. In doing so, we provide an account of conversion and redevelopment activity in New York City over the past decade to uncover associated structural and locational characteristics. We find that office-to-residential conversions contributed the greatest share of residential rental units of all non-residential conversions from 2010 to 2020, with nearly 5900 units created. However, there is suggestive evidence that more recent obsolete office buildings generate significantly fewer units as compared to office conversions of the 1990s. We additionally model the probability of conversion and redevelopment. We find that hotels have the highest conversion probability, followed by loft, retail, industrial, and office. In general, relatively taller, narrower, older buildings with diminished value are more likely to be converted. • Conversion is an important source of housing supply often occurring in very high-demand neighborhoods • Office buildings generate the greatest number of residential units per converted building than any other building class • The number of residential units generated per office conversion has declined substantially from the 1990s • Older, taller (shorter), smaller (larger) low-valued properties tend to attract conversion (redevelopment) rather than redevelopment (conversion) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Hysterical disorders were considered separately in the context of the dynamics of the course of either endogenous affective diseases or schizophrenia, without attention to the conjugation and interaction of issues of hysterical symptoms and affective or psychotic syndromes. Objectives To test the psychopathological structure and provide a typology of the conjugation of hysterical symptoms with other psychopathological syndromes. Methods 120 patients (82 women and 38 men) with schizophrenic and affective disorders with associated hysterical symptoms were examined by a clinical psychopathological method. Results Three variants of conjugation were identified. In the group of hysterical disorders associated with affective diseases (37,1%) the structure and dynamics of hysterical symptoms directly influenced the developing affective phase: the low intensity of hysterical symptoms contributed to the development of an apatho-adynamic type of depression, and bright and spontaneous hysterical manifestations formed an anxious-hypochondriac type of depression. Hysterical disorders formed in the structure of the psychotic state (41,4%) influenced the nature, structure, dynamics and content of delusional, hallucinatory and paranoid disorders. “Caste” hysterical symptoms (21,4%) revealed a lack of connection with affective and psychotic states. Hysterical symptoms were characterized by persistence, stability, invariability of manifestations, long-term psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological resistance. Conclusions Clinical and psychopathological analysis of endogenous mental diseases of the affective and schizophrenic spectrum, occurring with hysterical symptoms, showed that the parameter of the conjugation of hysterical symptoms with other psychopathological syndromes is prognostically significant. Disclosure No significant relationships.

With the recent proliferation of modes of payment, anthropology must increasingly pay closer attention to innovative designs and uses of money in Western societies. Money has started to be perceived as a consumable service with multiple providers from which to choose. In such an environment, the question of how people consume money—instead of how they consume with money—grows in importance. This article is based on ethnographic research of Bitcoin communities in Prague and Bratislava. It examines how users variously consume Bitcoin and what consequences these diverse ways of consumption can have for the Bitcoin economy. The article identifies two discrete spheres of consumption that closely correlate with "transactional orders" or spheres of exchange as described in classical works of economic anthropology, for example, by Parry and Bloch. One of the spheres is concerned with the reproduction of social order, while the other considers the personal gain of individual consumers. The article also examines the tension between these two spheres and how it is dialectically resolved through strategies of conversion. In the final discussion, the case of Bitcoin is compared with other anthropological accounts of spheres of exchange, with special attention oriented to their dissimilarities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is an attempt to present the problem of abandoning the Muslim religion in favor of Christianity. The article is based on materials collected and stored in the archives of Russia (Saint Petersburg), Lithuania (Vilnius), and Belarus (Grodno). These mostly contain either surviving records of baptisms sent to the consistory or police reports. The cases of conversion among nineteenth-century Muslims in the territory of the Russian Empire cited in the article have served as the basis for this phenomenon's typology in the Muslim Tatar community. Moreover, they have provided the basis for analyzing whether it is possible to fit them into pre-existing conversion models in social sciences. The examples quoted in the text show the kinds of life problems that prompted Muslim Tatars to abandon the religion of their ancestors, e.g., terminal illness, the issue of marriage, or the likelihood of rejection by one's group. It should be mentioned that there had already been conversions among Muslim Tatars in the early period of their settlement. However, this trend has never taken on a mass character, as evidenced by the relatively good condition of the Muslim community living in the former territories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lombok Institute of Information and Computer Management (STMIK) is one of the colleges in Central Lombok. In Higher Education there is a set of subjects given to participants in a period of education called the curriculum. Because the curriculum in each tertiary institution is different, a system that can equalize or convert courses is needed. Especially in supporting all lecture activities which in Higher Education must have a conversion system for equalizing subjects along with the number of effective semester credits takes up to two days, the head of study program is required to be able to produce or which is often referred to as a conversion term, both for advanced students and transfer students. The process of converting courses has not resulted in a decision that is a fast and appropriate decision for transfer student lectures. Based on the description above, the author intends to make a design entitled "The Design of Information Systems Conversion for Transfer and Advanced Students (Case Study of STMIK Lombok)".

Cognitive difficulty arises from two types of cognitive processes: treatments; within the same, conversions; between different types of representational registers. Conversions are difficult since they ask for understanding of two representations. Direction and the choice of first register could be a threshold for the student. Wasan geometry is used as a thought provoker and pre service mathematics teachers' written solutions to those problems for usage of cognitive processes: treatments and conversions are analyzed by content analysis method of qualitative research. Descriptive data regarding number of conversions and treatments are given. As much as correct / partially correct answers, the relation between cognitive processes and answers were analyzed. Students' written answers to three Wasan geometry problems on tangent circles are qualitatively analyzed for specific examples of treatment processes and conversion processes. Neither problem type nor correct answer is a reason for the choice of representational registers. One treatment may be worth many conversions. More usage is related to students' conformity. Direction of the conversion may be misleading. None of the students stays in mono-functional registers. Top and lowest grade students use more treatments and conversions. Usage of more conversions is not related to success and result in less number of treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[ca] La societat valenciana del segle XIII, com a conseqüència de la conquesta de Jaume I, va originar un col·lectiu de convertits de l’islam que la documentació identifica com a batiats, batejats o neòfits. Les notícies sobre aquest col·lectiu són ben poques, prova de la marginalitat i de l’escàs pes demogràfic en les viles i ciutats del país, ja que el seu assentament va ser sobretot urbà. L’objectiu d’aquesta indagació és esbrinar les raons que van empènyer al canvi de religió, quin era el seu perfil social i econòmic i de quina manera es va produir la integració en el teixit social.

This article explores the conversion of Muslims to Orthodox Christianity during the Greek War of Independence (1821–1832) and the first post-independence years as a case study which shows that religious boundaries in the Balkans do not seem to have been as insurmountable as one might think. The bonds between people of different religious affiliations, including Christians and Muslims, were not so loose in the chaotic period of the nineteenth century. Even though religious differences have always existed in South-eastern Europe, the inhabitants of that region have not always seen fellow humans with different religious affiliations as estranged others. Muslim converts to Christianity were ready to compromise their Islamic faith in exchange for security, social status, and well-being in the changed political and social environment created by Greek nationalism, with a view to advancing their professional opportunities and material interests in the new state. The Greek case is not unique. Religious conversions from Islam to Christianity occurred elsewhere in the region during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Yet, while Balkan historiographical literature has focused on the Islamization of Christians in the region during the Ottoman period, it has paid little attention to the inverse processes of Christianization of Muslims in the age of nationalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legal certainty is needed in the Company Law area, and this could be obtained if all the factors act jointly to achieve this aim by introducing division and conversion regulation, improving legal framework on mergers and in this manner create for company law the possibility to interact properly with EU legal framework specially designed to ensure that cross border operations will not be used in abusive way. The proposed Company Law Package by the European Commission which consists of two proposals for Directives amending Directive (EU) 2017/1132:Directive as regards the use of digital tools and processes in company law and Directive as regards cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions will achieve its best results only when both instruments could work together, complementing each other. Online solutions for European businesses so that they cut costs and save time and the choice of where to do business and how to grow or reorganise their businesses for honest entrepreneurs should push for a fairer modern Single Market. For the first time in European Union law, rules are provided for cross border conversions and divisions and the regime of cross border merger is improved, the legal framework being adapted to the economic and social realities.

The western region of Kenya is experiencing remarkable land changes resulting from population growth and related impacts. The study used remote sensing and GIS techniques to analyze the land use/cover changes in the years 1995, 2001, 2010 and 2017. Multi-spectral Landsat (TM, ETM + and OLI) images were pre-processed and classified using maximum likelihood algorithm in ENVI version 5.4. The overall classification accuracies in all the images were more than 80%. The results revealed major conversions of each land use/land cover type in varying trends and magnitudes. Between 1995 and 2001, there was an increase in built-up areas by 71%, forest cover by 43%, farms by 5%; and decrease in grassland by 47%. By 2017, the built-up areas had increased by 225% and farms by 17%; the forestland, grassland and water reduced by 38, 10 and 11%, respectively. The observed changes are characterized by increased settlements and encroachment of sensitive ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a series of projections for religious communities worldwide from 2020 to 2050. It offers details related to the projection methodology used to generate the estimates and comments on trends and patterns among Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, agnostics, and atheists. It concludes with suggestions on how such projections might be improved in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A specialist in the cultural and intellectual history of the late Ottoman Empire, Selim Deringil reexamines the historiography of the Hamidian period, its particular context and the Ottoman imperial ideology of the time, very different from that established by the Committee of Union and Progress at the time of the genocide, to better highlight the difficulties, and even the risks, when comparing the two events.

Lebanon, which is at the heart of the Arab world, has been the subject of a dynamic proselytizing enterprise led by evangelical Christians for more than 15 years. The latter are focused primarily on women. This article attempts to understand the reasons for this situation by examining in particular the argument of "feminism" understood as a defense of women's rights. If the author relativizes the importance of this argument, she demonstrates that women find in the evangelical universe a social role and resources, both material and symbolic, that they did not have in their original religion.

Despite an overwhelming amount of primary sources, there are surprisingly few detailed studies on the massacres of 1894-1897. Events in the countryside are still less known than those in the major towns. This article is a micro-historical approach to the massacres of late autumn 1895 in two rural districts of Bitlis province, Hizan and Şirvan. Both districts particularly attracted the attention of contemporary observers because of alarming reports of thousands of conversions to Islam. On the basis of hitherto unused Armenian, British and Ottoman reports, after an introduction of geographical, ethnic, and socio-economic character of the districts, the article sets out to reconstruct the events aiming at an inventory of incidents and an estimate of the number of victims. It also explores other important issues like the identity of the perpetrators and their motives, the role of the authorities, and possible involvement of Armenian revolutionaries and Kurdish Hamidiye.

Despite its popularity, sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is not devoid of postoperative complications and weight regain. Some of these cases warrant conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or proximal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy. Complications after conversion are scarcely reported in the literature. Report and review the outcomes of reoperation on severely obese patients with weight regain or complications after SG. Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence; Community Hospital, United States. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients converted from SG to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass/proximal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy at our center, from 2004 to 2018. Patients were stratified by reason for conversion. Group A included those converted for complications (leaks, strictures, or gastroesophageal reflux disease) and group B for reported weight regain. Demographic characteristics, postoperative outcomes, and complications were described. From 77 conversions identified, 63.6% (n = 49) underwent primary SG at an outside hospital. We observed predominant female (68.8%; n = 53) and Caucasian (76.6%; n = 59) populations. Conversions for complications were performed in 67.5% (n = 52) and for weight regain in 32.4% (n = 25). The most common conversion indication in group A was chronic leak (29.9%; n = 23), followed by gastroesophageal reflux disease (20.8%; n = 16), and stricture (16.9%; n = 13). Overall, major complications occurred in 16.9% (n = 13) and minor complications in 19.4% (n = 15). In group A, most common major complications were anastomotic leak and organ space surgical site infection (3.9%; n = 2 each); the most common minor complication was nonperforated marginal ulcer (7.7%; n = 4). In group B, the most common major complication was perforated marginal ulcer (8%; n = 2); the most common minor complication was stricture (16%; n = 4). Group B mean preconversion body mass index was 38.4 ± 4.3 and percentage excess body mass index loss was 48 ± 33, 63 ± 45, 59 ± 63, and 73 ± 25 (12, 24, 36, ≥48 mo). Our experience shows that major complications can occur in up to 17% of patients after conversion. Conversion to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in nonresponders appears to be a safe and effective option for body mass index reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database tracks patients, techniques, and outcomes for 30 days. The overwhelming majority of cases reported are performed using a laparoscopic technique. Bariatric surgeons rarely have to convert from laparoscopy to open surgery. We examined the MBSAQIP to determine the characteristics of patients who underwent conversion and evaluated their short-term outcomes. University program in the United States and nationwide clinical database. The MBSAQIP Public Use File for 2017 was examined for primary bariatric operations. We identified patients who underwent a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass using a minimally invasive technique. We identified patients who underwent conversion to another operative technique or were converted to open surgery and analyzed preoperative characteristics and postoperative complication rates. Relative risks (RR) were calculated for complications. P value was significant at <.05. There were 186,962 patients in the entire cohort. Six hundred nine patients underwent conversion from the original surgical approach to either open surgery (n = 457) or to another technique (n = 152). Patients with preoperative oxygen dependency, poor functional status, previous foregut/obesity surgery, preoperative renal insufficiency, and anticoagulation were more likely to undergo conversion. Patients who underwent conversion to the open approach had longer operative times (191 versus 86.6 min [ P <.001]) and longer time to discharge (6.2 versus 1.6 d [ P <.001]). The RR of death was 18.2 (95% confidence interval 8.7–37.6, P <.001) for procedures converted to open. The RR of sepsis was 10.1 (95% confidence interval 4.2–24.2, P <.001) and the RR for all complications was increased throughout for patients undergoing conversion. Patients in the MBSAQIP database that undergo conversion to the open surgical approach are at a greatly increased risk for death and complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of various amorphous aluminosilicates on the composition of cracking products of Karmalskoe heavy oil (Republic of Tatarstan) in an autoclave reactor has been studied. It has been shown that additives of 0.5% aluminosilicates with a pore size of 70 Å and 1.0 wt % Al–Si with a pore size of 50 Å lead to an increase in the degradation of macromolecular components by 13–14% and the yield of fractions boiling below 360°C by more than 20 wt %. It has been revealed that the oils are enriched in saturated and monoaromatic hydrocarbons. It has been found that the addition of an amorphous aluminosilicate with a pore size of 50 Å leads to the formation of asphaltenes with a coke-like structure and a low H/C atomic ratio of 0.75 and to complete catalyst coking. The use of an amorphous aluminosilicate with a pore size of 70 Å leads to the formation of asphaltenes with a lower molecular weight and an H/C atomic ratio of 0.96; in this case, the catalyst is less susceptible to the deposition of condensation products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The company law in Europe continues showing a difference of opinions in relation to the transfer of a company seat from one system to other, affecting the well functioning of the Single Market and the principle of freedom of establishment provided by the Treaty, no matter the way those organisations want to move, the Court of Justice being the only one offering, in time, clarifications and decisive solutions, many of them limiting the member states's action in restraining the freedom of establishment of companies. As a consequence, the caselaw on transfer of seat of companies from one member state to another, rather timid at the beginning, but approaching a more bold attitude recently, become more favourable towards the acceptance of the freedom of establishment in most cases of transfer, the national company law, especially the provisions on conflict of law, facing a new challenge in the harmonisation of the provisions related to incorporation, functioning, merger/division/conversion or the creation of secondary establishments. Moreover, the development of the market, leaning towards a speedy digitalisation, forces both the institutions and the members states to take measures to solve the problem of transfer of seat of companies in a more integrated market and one of the steps made in this way was the adoption of the Company Law Package, by which the European Union addressed two crucial issues: the use of digital tools by the companies and the crossborder conversions, mergers and divisions. The article follows the main developments of the treaty provisions and caselaw in relation to freedom of establishment and transfer seat of companies, especially the pivotal decisions of the Court of Justice which made possible for the new attitude in the field and analyses the possible structural implications of the new provisions on cross-board conversions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]