182 research outputs found
Two-body quantum mechanical problem on spheres
The quantum mechanical two-body problem with a central interaction on the
sphere is considered. Using recent results in representation
theory an ordinary differential equation for some energy levels is found. For
several interactive potentials these energy levels are calculated in explicit
form.Comment: 41 pages, no figures, typos corrected; appendix D was adde
Evaluation of a general practice based Hepatitis C virus screening intervention
In 2003 an estimated 37,500 of Scotland's population was chronically infected with HCV; 44% were undiagnosed former injecting drug users (IDU) - a priority group for arrival therapy. Aims to evaluate a hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening intervention. Outcomes measures among two similar general practice populations in an area of high HCV and drug use prevalence, one of which was exposed to an HCV screening intervention, were compared. Thirty to fifty four year old attendees of the intervention practice were opportunistically offered testing and counselling, where clinically appropriate, (November 2003 - April 2004). Outcomes: HCV test uptake, case detection, referral and treatment administration rates. Of 584 eligible attendees, 421 (72%) were offered and 117 (28%) accepted testing in the intervention practice; no testing was undertaken in the comparison practice. Prevalences of HCV antibody were 13% (15/117), 75% (3/4) and 91% (10/11) among all tested persons, current IDUs and former IDUs respectively. For 4/15 (27%) evidence of binge drinking following the receipt of their positive result, was available. Of the 11 referred to specialist care because they were HCV RNA positive, nine attended at least one appointment. Two received treatment: one had achieved a sustained viral response as of February 2008. While non targeted HCV screening in the general practice setting can detect infected former IDU, the low diagnostic yield among non IDUs limited the effectiveness of the intervention. A more targeted approach for identifying former IDUs is recommended. Additionally, the low uptake of treatment among chronically infected persons four years after diagnosis demonstrates the difficulties in clinically managing such individuals. Strategies, including support for those with a history of problem alcohol use, to improve treatment uptake are required
On the gravitodynamics of moving bodies
In the present work we propose a generalization of Newton's gravitational
theory from the original works of Heaviside and Sciama, that takes into account
both approaches, and accomplishes the same result in a simpler way than the
standard cosmological approach. The established formulation describes the local
gravitational field related to the observables and effectively implements the
Mach's principle in a quantitative form that retakes Dirac's large number
hypothesis. As a consequence of the equivalence principle and the application
of this formulation to the observable universe, we obtain, as an immediate
result, a value of Omega = 2. We construct a dynamic model for a galaxy without
dark matter, which fits well with recent observational data, in terms of a
variable effective inertial mass that reflects the present dynamic state of the
universe and that replicates from first principles, the phenomenology proposed
in MOND. The remarkable aspect of these results is the connection of the effect
dubbed dark matter with the dark energy field, which makes it possible for us
to interpret it as longitudinal gravitational waves.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures. Final version: almost identical to the reference
journal; Cent. Eur. J. Phys. 201
ROCK-Isoform-Specific Polarization of Macrophages Associated with Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age is a major risk factor in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but the underlying cause is unknown. We find increased Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) signaling and M2 characteristics in eyes of aged mice, revealing immune changes in aging. ROCK isoforms determine macrophage polarization into M1 and M2 subtypes. M2-like macrophages accumulated in AMD, but not in normal eyes, suggesting that these macrophages may be linked to macular degeneration. M2 macrophages injected into the mouse eye exacerbated choroidal neovascular lesions, while M1 macrophages ameliorated them, supporting a causal role for macrophage subtypes in AMD. Selective ROCK2 inhibition with a small molecule decreased M2-like macrophages and choroidal neovascularization. ROCK2 inhibition upregulated M1 markers without affecting macrophage recruitment, underlining the plasticity of these macrophages. These results reveal age-induced innate immune imbalance as underlying AMD pathogenesis. Targeting macrophage plasticity opens up new possibilities for more effective AMD treatment
Relationship between the Clinical Frailty Scale and short-term mortality in patients ≥ 80 years old acutely admitted to the ICU: a prospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND: The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is frequently used to measure frailty in critically ill adults. There is wide variation in the approach to analysing the relationship between the CFS score and mortality after admission to the ICU. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of modelling approach on the association between the CFS score and short-term mortality and quantify the prognostic value of frailty in this context. METHODS: We analysed data from two multicentre prospective cohort studies which enrolled intensive care unit patients ≥ 80 years old in 26 countries. The primary outcome was mortality within 30-days from admission to the ICU. Logistic regression models for both ICU and 30-day mortality included the CFS score as either a categorical, continuous or dichotomous variable and were adjusted for patient's age, sex, reason for admission to the ICU, and admission Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. RESULTS: The median age in the sample of 7487 consecutive patients was 84 years (IQR 81-87). The highest fraction of new prognostic information from frailty in the context of 30-day mortality was observed when the CFS score was treated as either a categorical variable using all original levels of frailty or a nonlinear continuous variable and was equal to 9% using these modelling approaches (p < 0.001). The relationship between the CFS score and mortality was nonlinear (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Knowledge about a patient's frailty status adds a substantial amount of new prognostic information at the moment of admission to the ICU. Arbitrary simplification of the CFS score into fewer groups than originally intended leads to a loss of information and should be avoided. Trial registration NCT03134807 (VIP1), NCT03370692 (VIP2)
Comment letters to the National Commission on Commission on Fraudulent Financial Reporting, 1987 (Treadway Commission) Vol. 2
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/aicpa_sop/1662/thumbnail.jp
Pyrolysis of Perhydro[1,2-c][1,3]Oxazines: A Green Method of Synthesizing 2,3-Dehydropiperidine Enamines
Heat pyrolysis of the oxazines formed from 2-piperidineethanol produced 2,3-dehydropiperidine enamines. The same results were observed when these oxazines were irradiated with microwaves. Various 2-substituted perhydrooxazines were synthesized by allowing 2-piperidineethanol or 2-piperidinemethanol to react with aldehydes or ketones. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
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