49,813 research outputs found
Constraining the nuclear equation of state at subsaturation densities
Only one third of the nucleons in Pb occupy the saturation density
area. Consequently nuclear observables related to average properties of nuclei,
such as masses or radii, constrain the equation of state (EOS) not at
saturation density but rather around the so-called crossing density, localised
close to the mean value of the density of nuclei: 0.11 fm.
This provides an explanation for the empirical fact that several EOS quantities
calculated with various functionals cross at a density significantly lower than
the saturation one. The third derivative M of the energy at the crossing
density is constrained by the giant monopole resonance (GMR) measurements in an
isotopic chain rather than the incompressibility at saturation density. The GMR
measurements provide M=1110 70 MeV (6% uncertainty), whose extrapolation
gives K=230 40 MeV (17% uncertainty).Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Increased hazard of myocardial infarction with insulināprovision therapy in actively smoking patients with diabetes mellitus and stable ischemic heart disease: The BARI 2D (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes) trial
Background
In the BARI 2D (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes) trial, randomization of diabetic patients with stable ischemic heart disease to insulin provision (
IP
) therapy, as opposed to insulin sensitization (
IS
) therapy, resulted in biochemical evidence of impaired fibrinolysis but no increase in adverse clinical outcomes. We hypothesized that the prothrombotic effect of
IP
therapy in combination with the hypercoagulable state induced by active smoking would result in an increased risk of myocardial infarction (
MI
).
Methods and Results
We analyzed
BARI
2D patients who were active smokers randomized to
IP
or
IS
therapy. The primary end point was fatal or nonfatal
MI
.
PAI
ā1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor 1) activity was analyzed at 1, 3, and 5Ā years. Of 295 active smokers,
MI
occurred in 15.4% randomized to
IP
and in 6.8% randomized to
IS
over the 5.3Ā years (
P
=0.023).
IP
therapy was associated with a 3.2āfold increase in the hazard of
MI
compared with
IS
therapy (hazard ratio: 3.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.43ā7.28;
P
=0.005). Baseline
PAI
ā1 activity (19.0 versus 17.5Ā Au/mL,
P
=0.70) was similar in actively smoking patients randomized to
IP
or
IS
therapy. However,
IP
therapy resulted in significantly increased
PAI
ā1 activity at 1Ā year (23.0 versus 16.0Ā Au/mL,
P
=0.001), 3Ā years (24.0 versus 18.0Ā Au/mL,
P
=0.049), and 5Ā years (29.0 versus 15.0Ā Au/mL,
P
=0.004) compared with
IS
therapy.
Conclusions
Among diabetic patients with stable ischemic heart disease who were actively smoking,
IP
therapy was independently associated with a significantly increased hazard of
MI
. This finding may be explained by higher
PAI
ā1 activity in active smokers treated with
IP
therapy.
Clinical Trial Registration
URL
:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
00006305.
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Characterization of dentine to assess bond strength of dental composites
This study was performed to develop alternating dentine adhesion models that could help in the evaluation of a self-bonding dental composite. For this purpose dentine from human and ivory was characterized chemically and microscopically before and after acid etching using Raman and SEM. Mechanical properties of dentine were determined using 3 point bend test. Composite bonding to dentine, with and without use of acid pre-treatment and/or the adhesive, were assessed using a shear bond test. Furthermore, micro gap formation after restoration of 3 mm diameter cavities in dentine was assessed by SEM. Initial hydroxyapatite level in ivory was half that in human dentine. Surface hydroxyapatites decreased by approximately half with every 23 s of acid etch. The human dentine strength (56 MPa) was approximately double that of ivory, while the modulus was almost comparable to that of ivory. With adhesive use, average shear bond strengths were 30 and 26 MPa with and without acid etching. With no adhesive, average bond strength was 6 MPa for conventional composites. This, however, increased to 14 MPa with a commercial flowable "self-bonding" composite or upon addition of low levels of an acidic monomer to the experimental composite. The acidic monomer additionally reduced micro-gap formation with the experimental composite. Improved bonding and mechanical properties should reduce composite failures due to recurrent caries or fracture respectively
Economical comparison of CHP systems for industrial user with large steam demand
In this paper cogeneration benefits applied to a user with a high steam demand are analyzed. The methodology for the feasibility study and the economical analysis of the investment is presented under the Italian legislative framework. The methodology is applied to an actual case and a detailed description and discussion of all data input is provided. Especially this last key point will be faced using starting data usually available in these kind of studies (i.e., not very detailed for thermal consumption). Finally a comparison of different CHP technologies and a sensitivity analysis is done
Modulation of EGF receptor-mediated vulva development by the heterotrimeric G-protein G{alpha}q and excitable cells in C. elegans
A convex selective segmentation model based on a piece-wise constant metric guided edge detector function
The challenge of segmentation for noisy images, especially those that have light in their backgrounds, is still exists in many advanced state-of-the-art segmentation models. Furthermore, it is significantly difficult to segment such images. In this article, we provide a novel variational model for the simultaneous restoration and segmentation of noisy images that have intensity inhomogeneity and high contrast background illumination and light. The suggested concept combines the multi-phase segmentation technology with the statistical approach in terms of local region knowledge and details of circular regions that are, in fact, centered at every pixel to enable in-homogeneous image restoration. The suggested model is expressed as a fuzzy set and is resolved using the multiplier alternating direction minimization approach. Through several tests and numerical simulations with plausible assumptions, we have evaluated the accuracy and resilience of the proposed approach over various kinds of real and synthesized images in the existence of intensity inhomogeneity and light in the background. Additionally, the findings are contrasted with those from cutting-edge two-phase and multi-phase methods, proving the superiority of our proposed approach for images with noise, background light, and inhomogeneity
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