Complications of collagen injection of the vocal fold: report of several unusual cases and review of the literature

Injection laryngoplasty is one of the most frequently performed procedures in patients with voice complaints. Various biomaterials have been used to medialize vocal folds or to treat symptoms of vocal fold scar. The ideal biomaterial would be easily injected through a fine-gauge needle, well tolerated, and long lasting. Injectable collagen preparations fulfill at least two of these criteria, and collagen has been used widely for vocal fold injections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a retrospective review of two unusual complications of collagen injection and a review of the relevant literature on the complications of medical use of collagen compounds. RESULTS: Two patients in whom collagen was injected formed firm submucosal deposits that interrupted the normal mucosal wave and produced significant dysphonia. Surgical removal of these deposits restored the mucosal wave and improved voice quality. Management of this unusual complication of human collagen injection in the vocal fold has not been reported previously. Other complications of collagen injection include hypersensitivity reactions to bovine collagen, local abscess formation at injection sites, and possibly induction of collagen vascular disease in some patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although collagen injections of the vocal fold rarely result in complications, physicians using collagen must be familiar with the types of complications that can occur. Proper diagnosis and prompt management of complications can result in good outcomes.     

About the Notion of Semiring of Sets

We introduce a generalized notion of semiring and prove that all known properties that semirings have according to the old definition are preserved.     

Tail probabilities of the limiting null distributions of the Anderson–Stephens statistics

For the purpose of testing the spherical uniformity based on i.i.d. directional data (unit vectors) z_i, i=1,…,n, Anderson and Stephens (Biometrika 59 (1972) 613–621) proposed testing procedures based on the statistics S_max=max_u S(u) and S_min=min_u S(u), where u is a unit vector and nS(u) is the sum of squares of u′z_i's. In this paper, we also consider another test statistic S_range=S_max−S_min. We provide formulas for the P-values of S_max, S_min, S_range by approximating tail probabilities of the limiting null distributions by means of the tube method, an integral-geometric approach for evaluating tail probability of the maximum of a Gaussian random field. Monte Carlo simulations for examining the accuracy of the approximation and for the power comparison of the statistics are given.     

Almost strongly regular matrices and a core theorem for double sequences

The idea of almost convergence for double sequences was introduced by Moricz and Rhoades [Math. Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 104 (1988) 283-294] and they also characterized the four dimensional strong regular matrices. In this paper we define and characterize the almost strongly regular matrices for double sequences and apply these matrices to establish a core theorem.     

B(A)CKLUND TRANSFORMATION ON SURFACES WITH CONSTANT MEAN CURVATURE IN R2'1

In this paper,the authors obtain the Backlund transformation on time-like surfaces with constant mean curvature in R2,1.Using this transformation,families of surfaces with constant mean curvature from known ones can be constructed.     

Stein's idea and minimax admissible estimation of a multivariate normal mean

We consider estimation of a multivariate normal mean vector under sum of squared error loss.We propose a new class of minimax admissible estimator which are generalized Bayes with respect to a prior distribution which is a mixture of a point prior at the origin and a continuous hierarchical type prior. We also study conditions under which these generalized Bayes minimax estimators improve on the James–Stein estimator and on the positive-part James–Stein estimator.     

Noninferior Nash Strategies for Multi-Team Systems

This paper is concerned with the optimization of systems that are controlled by several teams of decision makers. The decision makers within each team cooperate for the benefit of their team. On the other hand, the teams compete among themselves in order to achieve an objective that relates to the overall performance of the system. An approach that merges concepts from team theory and game theory for dealing with such systems and a solution called the noninferior Nash strategy are introduced. This multi-team solution provides a new framework for analyzing hierarchically controlled systems so as to address complicated coordination problems among the decision makers. The properties of the noninferior Nash solution in static multi-team systems are investigated and necessary conditions for its existence are derived. Analytical expressions for the noninferior Nash strategies are derived for a class of linear-quadratic static multi-team games. In order to deal with the issue of nonuniqueness of the solution, the concept of a noninferior Nash strategy with a team leader is introduced. Several examples are presented to illustrate the results.     

Nonequilibrium Statistical Thermodynamics of Two Dissipative Processes in Solids: Energy Losses of Channeled Particles at Low Velocities and Ultrasound Absorption by Conduction Electrons

We use methods of nonequilibrium statistical thermodynamics to investigate two dissipative processes in solids. We find the electron energy losses of a particle moving in a planar channeling regime and the sound absorption coefficient in metals under electron impurity scattering. The oscillator model is used to analyze the contribution from the effect of electron entrainment by a moving scattering center to the total dissipated energy. We investigate the frequency and temperature dependence of energy losses and also the dependence of the absorption coefficient on the sound wave vector.     

模糊半群上的模糊同余及其扩张

给出模糊半群上的模糊同余的概念，并进一步研究它的一些基本代数性质。同时研究带有模糊半群上的模糊同余扩张性质(FCEPF)的半群类，得到一个半群有模糊半群上的模糊同余扩张性质、有模糊同余扩张性质(FCEP)、有同余扩张性质(CEP)三个条件是等价的。     

Lattice path combinatorics and asymptotics of multiplicities of weights in tensor powers

We give asymptotic formulas for the multiplicities of weights and irreducible summands in high-tensor powers V_λ^⊗N of an irreducible representation V_λ of a compact connected Lie group G. The weights are allowed to depend on N, and we obtain several regimes of pointwise asymptotics, ranging from a central limit region to a large deviations region. We use a complex steepest descent method that applies to general asymptotic counting problems for lattice paths with steps in a convex polytope.