To improve the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatment, it is desirable to identify the physical properties of urinary calculi could offer direct correlation with their fragilities during ESWL and thus could be used to guide treatment procedures for more effective stone fragmentation. Thirty stone specimens removed surgically were compressed by an axial testing system...

A single volume of 0.075 ml. of a 1 in 10 dilution of whole blood in isotonic NaCl solution is introduced into a container cell, two walls of which are made of a dialysing membrane. The container cell is introduced into a test tube of distilled water, placed in an instrument which is essentially a colorimeter with a recorder, between the source of light and the photoelectric cell. Dialysis thro...

This paper develops a network model of interbank lending in which unsecured claims, repo activity and shocks to the haircuts applied to collateral assume centre stage. We show how systemic liquidity crises of the kind associated with the interbank market collapse of 2007–2008 can arise within such a framework, with funding contagion spreading widely through the web of interlinkages. Our model i...

The purpose of this research is to set forth the basis for developing fragility curves that can be used in various ways as part of a seismic vulnerability analysis methodology for highway bridges. To develop a set of fragility curves for various damage states for a specific bridge, the notion of adjusting “Standard Bridge” fragility curves for sitespecific effects is adopted. Only three sources...

In this paper, we use the recent collapse of the ARS market as a case study on important issues regarding fragility of financial innovations and systemic risks. We find strong evidence of investor runs for liquidity, partly caused by a self-fulfilling panic. In addition, coordination failures triggered by an unexpected first mover led all major broker-dealers to simultaneously withdraw their li...

This article formalizes investor rationality and irrationality, exuberance and apprehension, to consider the implications of belief formation for the fragility of an economy’s financial structure. The model presented generates a financial structure with portfolio linkages that make it susceptible to contagious financial crises, despite the absence of coordination failures. Investors forecast th...

The work of Constantin-Majda-Tabak [1] developed an analogy between the Quasi-geostrophic and 3D Euler equations. Constantin, Majda and Tabak proposed a candidate for a singularity for the Quasi-geostrophic equation. Their numerics showed evidence of a blow-up for a particular initial data, where the level sets of the temperature contain a hyperbolic saddle. The arms of the saddle tend to close...

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a bronchoscopic treatment for severe asthma using thermal energy to reduce smooth muscle in the bronchial wall. A 47-year-old man underwent BT for uncontrolled severe asthma despite maximal pharmacological treatment. After a third procedure, he experienced hypoxaemia because of complete bilateral upper lobe atelectasis. A pulmonary cyst suddenly emerged in to the ...

Acute fulminant myocarditis is a life-threatening inflammatory disease of the myocardium characterized by the rapid deterioration of the hemodynamic status of the affected individual. With prompt recognition and appropriate management, complete recovery of ventricular function is likely within a few weeks. We introduce a 28-year-old man with acute fulminant myocarditis, who experienced circulat...

The article aims to introduce the underlying motivation and conceptual underpinning special issue entitled “Globalizing Local Understanding of Fragility in Eurasia.” main purpose this is problematize popular opinion portrayal Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) more generally countries Eurasia Caucasus as inherently fragile states which are political...