New higher-order transition in causal dynamical triangulations

We reinvestigate the recently discovered bifurcation phase transition in Causal Dynamical Triangulations (CDT) and provide further evidence that it is a higher order transition. We also investigate the impact of introducing matter in the form of massless scalar fields to CDT. We discuss the impact of scalar fields on the measured spatial volumes and fluctuation profiles in addition to analysing how the scalar fields influence the position of the bifurcation transition.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures. Conforms with version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

A multicentre, prospective, randomised, blinded clinical trial to compare some perioperative effects of buprenorphine or butorphanol premedication before equine elective general anaesthesia and surgery

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Buprenorphine, a μ‐agonist opioid, has recently been licensed for equine use, but butorphanol, a κ‐agonist opioid, is more commonly used in horses. The effect of the 2 opioids has not previously been compared in a large clinical study. OBJECTIVES: To compare post operative analgesia and physiological variables in horses undergoing elective surgery following premedication with either buprenorphine or butorphanol in a conventional clinical setting. STUDY DESIGN: Multicentre, prospective, randomised, blinded clinical investigation. METHODS: Eighty‐nine healthy horses admitted for elective surgery to one of 6 UK equine veterinary clinics were premedicated with acepromazine, a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, and romifidine followed by intravenous (i.v.) buprenorphine or butorphanol. Anaesthesia was induced with diazepam/ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. A range of surgical procedures were performed and supplementary anaesthetic agents given as required. Physiological variables were monitored during anaesthesia and pain, ataxia, sedation and vital function were assessed post operatively. Data were analysed using t‐tests, ANOVA, Mann–Whitney U‐test and Chi‐squared test as appropriate and P<0.05 was regarded as significant, except for multiple comparisons, when P<0.01 was used. RESULTS: Surgery was carried out successfully in all cases and no mortality or serious morbidity occurred. Physiological variables remained within normal limits and all horses recovered successfully, most standing within 1 h of ceasing anaesthesia. There were no significant differences between groups in any variable except post operative pain when scores (simple descriptive scale) between 3 and 6 h were significantly lower after buprenorphine than after butorphanol. CONCLUSIONS: Horses experienced less post operative pain after buprenorphine than after butorphanol premedication. Compared with butorphanol, buprenorphine did not cause any different effects on vital function

Weekly variation in health-care quality by day and time of admission: a nationwide, registry-based, prospective cohort study of acute stroke care.

Studies in many health systems have shown evidence of poorer quality health care for patients admitted on weekends or overnight than for those admitted during the week (the so-called weekend effect). We postulated that variation in quality was dependent on not only day, but also time, of admission, and aimed to describe the pattern and magnitude of variation in the quality of acute stroke care across the entire week.Accepted manuscript (12 month embargo

Effect of Copper Metal on the Yield of Sc\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3eN@C\u3csub\u3e80\u3c/sub\u3e Metallofullerenes

The yield of Sc3N@C80 metallofullerene and fullerene extract is dramatically increased via filling cored graphite rods with copper and Sc2O3 only; when compared to 100% Sc2O3 packed rods, improvements of factors of ~3 and ~5 have been achieved for Sc3N@C80 and fullerene extract produced, respectively, with the weight percent of Cu added to the rod affecting the type and amount of fullerene produced

Quantitative assessment of the rheumatoid synovial microvascular bed by gadolinium-DTPA enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE—To examine the relation between rate of synovial membrane enhancement, intra-articular pressure (IAP), and histologically determined synovial vascularity in rheumatoid arthritis, using gadolinium-DTPA enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
METHODS—Dynamic gadolinium-DTPA enhanced MRI was performed in 31 patients with knee synovitis (10 patients IAP study, 21 patients vascular morphometry study). Rate of synovial membrane enhancement was quantified by line profile analysis using the image processing package ANALYZE. IAP was measured using an intra-compartmental pressure monitor system. Multiple synovial biopsy specimens were obtained by a blind biopsy technique. Blood vessels were identified immunohistochemically using the endothelial cell marker QBend30 and quantified (blood vessel numerical density and fractional area).
RESULTS—Median blood vessel numerical density and fractional area were 77.5/mm(2) (IQR; 69.3-110.7) and 5.6% (IQR; 3.4-8.5) respectively. The rate of synovial membrane enhancement (median 2.74 signal intensity units/s, IQR 2.0-3.8) correlated with both blood vessel numerical density (r = 0.46, p < 0.05) and blood vessel fractional area (r = 0.55, p < 0.02). IAP did not influence the rate of enhancement.
CONCLUSIONS—Gadolinium-DTPA enhanced MRI may prove to be a valuable technique for evaluating drugs that influence angiogenesis.

 Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; rheumatoid arthritis; synovitis; vascularit