Stickiness is a ubiquitous property of dynamical systems. However, recognizing whether an orbit is temporarily `stuck' (and therefore very nearly quasiperiodic) is hard to detect. Outlined in this thesis is an approach to quantifying stickiness in area-preserving maps based on a tool called recurrence plots that is not very commonly used. With the analyses presented herein it is shown that recurrence plot methods can give very close estimates to stickiness exponents that were previously calculated using Poincare recurrence and other methods. To capture the dynamics, RP methods require shorter data series than more conventional methods and are able to represent a more-global analysis of recurrence. A description of stickiness of the standard map for a wide array of parameter strengths is presented and a start at analyzing the standard nontwist map is presented. / text

BACKGROUND: We compared hernia recurrence rates in patients undergoing primary elective inguinal hernia repair at general hospitals with the Shouldice Hospital in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: We conducted an administrative data analysis of persons who underwent inguinal hernia repair in Ontario, Canada from 1993-2007. Risk of recurrent hernia repair was estimated according to hospital type and volume, using Cox proportional-hazards regression models. RESULTS: Recurrence risk in the lowest volume quartile was 5.7%, compared to 3.9% at high volume general hospitals and 1.1% at the Shouldice hospital. Compared to persons who had surgery at the lowest volume hospitals, hernia recurrence among Shouldice Hospital patients was substantially lower after adjustment for confounding variables (hazard ratio 0.18, CI (0.16 to 0.19), P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Persons who had elective primary inguinal hernia repair at the Shouldice Hospital had a substantially lower risk of recurrence than those treated at general hospitals, including high volume general hospitals.

BACKGROUND: We compared hernia recurrence rates in patients undergoing primary elective inguinal hernia repair at general hospitals with the Shouldice Hospital in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: We conducted an administrative data analysis of persons who underwent inguinal hernia repair in Ontario, Canada from 1993-2007. Risk of recurrent hernia repair was estimated according to hospital type and volume, using Cox proportional-hazards regression models. RESULTS: Recurrence risk in the lowest volume quartile was 5.7%, compared to 3.9% at high volume general hospitals and 1.1% at the Shouldice hospital. Compared to persons who had surgery at the lowest volume hospitals, hernia recurrence among Shouldice Hospital patients was substantially lower after adjustment for confounding variables (hazard ratio 0.18, CI (0.16 to 0.19), P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Persons who had elective primary inguinal hernia repair at the Shouldice Hospital had a substantially lower risk of recurrence than those treated at general hospitals, including high volume general hospitals.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2002. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Univ., 2002. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.S. in oral sciences)--University of Illinois at Chicago, 1996. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-113).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [56]-64).

Thesis (M.S. in oral sciences)--University of Illinois at Chicago, 1996. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-188).