693 research outputs found
From nodal liquid to nodal Mottness in a frustrated Hubbard model
We investigate the physics of frustrated 3-leg Hubbard ladders in the band
limit, when hopping across the ladder's rungs (t) is of the same
order as hopping along them (t) much greater than the onsite Coulomb repulsion
(U). We show that this model exhibits a striking electron-hole asymmetry close
to half-filling: the hole-doped system at low temperatures develops a
Resonating Valence Bond (RVB)-like d-wave gap (pseudogap close to (,0))
coinciding with gapless nodal excitations (nodal liquid); in contrast, the
electron-doped system is seen to develop a Mott gap at the nodes, whilst
retaining a metallic character of its majority Fermi surface. At lower
temperatures in the electron-doped case, d-wave superconducting correlations --
here, coexisting with gapped nodal excitations -- are already seen to arise.
Upon further doping the hole-doped case, the RVB-like state yields to d-wave
superconductivity. Such physics is reminiscent of that exhibited by the high
temperature cuprate superconductors--notably electron-hole asymmetry as noted
by Angle Resolved PhotoEmission Spectroscopy (ARPES) and the resistivity
exponents observed. This toy model also reinforces the importance of a more
thorough experimental investigation of the known 3-leg ladder cuprate systems,
and may have some bearing on low dimensional organic superconductors.Comment: 26 pages, 16 figure
Reduced morphine consumption and pain intensity with local infiltration analgesia (LIA) following total knee arthroplasty: A randomized double-blind study involving 48 patients
Organic residue analysis shows sub-regional patterns in the use of pottery by Northern European hunter–gatherers
The introduction of pottery vessels to Europe has long been seen as closely linked with the spread of agriculture and pastoralism from the Near East. The adoption of pottery technology by hunter–gatherers in Northern and Eastern Europe does not fit this paradigm, and its role within these communities is so far unresolved. To investigate the motivations for hunter–gatherer pottery use, here, we present the systematic analysis of the contents of 528 early vessels from the Baltic Sea region, mostly dating to the late 6th–5th millennium cal BC, using molecular and isotopic characterization techniques. The results demonstrate clear sub-regional trends in the use of ceramics by hunter–gatherers; aquatic resources in the Eastern Baltic, non-ruminant animal fats in the Southeastern Baltic, and a more variable use, including ruminant animal products, in the Western Baltic, potentially including dairy. We found surprisingly little evidence for the use of ceramics for non-culinary activities, such as the production of resins. We attribute the emergence of these subregional cuisines to the diffusion of new culinary ideas afforded by the adoption of pottery, e.g. cooking and combining foods, but culturally contextualized and influenced by traditional practices
Pregnancy and risk of COVID‐19: a Norwegian registry‐linkage study
Objective
To compare the risk of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and contact with specialist healthcare services for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Population or sample All women ages 15–45 living in Norway on 1 March 2020 (n = 1 033 699).
Methods
We linked information from the national birth, patient, communicable diseases and education databases using unique national identifiers. Main outcome measure We estimated hazard ratios (HR) among pregnant compared to non-pregnant women of having a positive test for SARS-CoV-2, a diagnosis of COVID-19 in specialist healthcare, or hospitalisation with COVID-19 using Cox regression. Multivariable analyses adjusted for age, marital status, education, income, country of birth and underlying medical
conditions.
Results
Pregnant women were not more likely to be tested for or to a have a positive SARS-CoV-2 test (adjusted HR 0.99; 95% CI 0.92–1.07). Pregnant women had higher risk of hospitalisation with COVID-19 (HR 4.70, 95% CI 3.51–6.30) and any type of specialist care for COVID-19 (HR 3.46, 95% CI 2.89–4.14). Pregnant women born outside Scandinavia were less likely to be
tested, and at higher risk of a positive test (HR 2.37, 95% CI 2.51–8.87). Compared with pregnant Scandinavian-born women, pregnant women with minority background had a higher risk of hospitalisation with COVID-19 (HR 4.72, 95% CI 2.51–8.87).
Conclusion
Pregnant women were not more likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. Still, pregnant women with COVID-19, especially those born outside of Scandinavia, were more likely to be hospitalised
Scaling Patterns for QCD Jets
Jet emission at hadron colliders follows simple scaling patterns. Based on
perturbative QCD we derive Poisson and staircase scaling for final state as
well as initial state radiation. Parton density effects enhance staircase
scaling at low multiplicities. We propose experimental tests of our theoretical
findings in Z+jets and QCD gap jets production based on minor additions to
current LHC analyses.Comment: 36 pages, 16 figure
The use of a sphygmomanometer to measure shoulder isometric strength: a validity and reliability study
An environmental evaluation of food waste downstream management options: a hybrid LCA approach
Food waste treatment methods have been typically analysed using current energy generation conditions. To correctly evaluate treatment methods, they must be compared under existing and potential decarbonisation scenarios. This paper holistically quantifies the environmental impacts of three food waste downstream management options—incineration, composting, and anaerobic digestion (AD).
Methods
The assessment was carried out using a novel hybrid input–output-based life cycle assessment method (LCA), for 2014, and in a future decarbonised economy. The method introduces expanded system boundaries which reduced the level of incompleteness, a previous limitation of process-based LCA.
Results
Using the 2014 UK energy mix, composting achieved the best score for seven of 14 environmental impacts, while AD scored second best for ten. Incineration had the highest environmental burdens in six impacts. Uncertainties in the LCA data made it difficult determine best treatment option. There was significant environmental impact from capital goods, meaning current treatment facilities should be used for their full lifespan. Hybrid IO LCA’s included additional processes and reduced truncation error increasing overall captured environmental impacts of composting, AD, and incineration by 26, 10 and 26%, respectively. Sensitivity and Monte Carlo analysis evaluate the methods robustness and illustrate the uncertainty of current LCA methods. Major implication: hybrid IO-LCA approaches must become the new norm for LCA.
Conclusion
This study provided a deeper insight of the overall environmental performance of downstream food waste treatment options including ecological burdens associated with capital goods.
Keywords
Anaerobic digestion Incineration Composting Food waste Hybrid life cycle assessment Capital good
Pain control after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized trial comparing local infiltration anesthesia and continuous femoral block
Local infiltration analgesia (LIA) is a new multimodal wound infiltration method. It
has attracted growing interest in recent years and is widely used all over the world for
treating postoperative pain after knee and hip arthroplasty. This method is based on
systematic infiltration of a mixture of ropivacaine, a long acting local anesthetic,
ketorolac, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (NSAID), and adrenalin around all structures
subject to surgical trauma inknee and hip arthroplasty.
Two patient cohorts of 40 patients scheduled for elective total knee arthroplasty
(TKA) and 15 patients scheduled for total hip arthroplasty (THA) contributed to the
work presented in this thesis. In a randomized trial the efficacy of LIA in TKA with
regard to pain at rest and upon movement was compared to femoral block. Both
methods result in a high quality pain relief and similar morphine consumption, but
fewer patients in the LIA group reported pain of 7/10 on any occasion during the 24 h
monitoring period (paper I).
In the same patient cohort the maximal total plasma concentration of ropivacaine was
below the established toxic threshold for most patients although a few reached
potentially toxic concentrations of 1.4-1.7 mg/L. The time to maximal detected
plasma concentration was around 4-6 h after release of tourniquet in TKA (paper II).
All patients in the THA cohort were subjected to the routine LIA protocol. In these
patients both the total and unbound plasma concentration of ropivacaine was
determined. The concentration was below the established toxic threshold. As
ropivacaine binds to a-1 acid glycoprotein(AAG) we assessed the possibility that
increased AAG may decrease the unbound concentration of ropivacaine. A40 %
increase in AAG was detected during the first 24 h after surgery, however the
fraction of unbound ropivacaine remained the same. There was a trend towards
increased C max of ropivacaine with increasing age and decreasing creatinine
clearance but the statistical power was too low to draw any conclusion (paper III).
Administration of 30mg ketorolac according to the LIA protocol both in TKA and
THA resulted in a similar Cmax as previously reported after 10 mg intramuscular
ketorolac (paper II, paper IV). Neither age, nor body weight or BMI, nor creatinine
clearance, correlates to maximal ketorolac plasma concentration or total exposure to
ketorolac (AUC) (paper IV).
In conclusion, LIA provides good postoperative analgesia which is similar to femoral
block after total knee arthroplasty. The plasma concentration of ropivacaine seems to
be below toxic levels in most TKA patients. The unbound plasma concentration of
ropivcaine in THA seems to be below the toxic level.
The use of ketorolac in LIA may not be safer than other routes of administration, and
similar restrictions should be applied in patients at risk of developing side effects
Large neutral amino acids in the treatment of PKU: from theory to practice
Notwithstanding the success of the traditional dietary phenylalanine restriction treatment in phenylketonuria (PKU), the use of large neutral amino acid (LNAA) supplementation rather than phenylalanine restriction has been suggested. This treatment modality deserves attention as it might improve cognitive outcome and quality of life in patients with PKU. Following various theories about the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction in PKU, LNAA supplementation may have multiple treatment targets: a specific reduction in brain phenylalanine concentrations, a reduction in blood (and consequently brain) phenylalanine concentrations, an increase in brain neurotransmitter concentrations, and an increase in brain essential amino acid concentrations. These treatment targets imply different treatment regimes. This review summarizes the treatment targets and the treatment regimens of LNAA supplementation and discusses the differences in LNAA intake between the classical dietary phenylalanine-restricted diet and several LNAA treatment forms
Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment
Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatmentTreatment for cancer (including bone marrow transplant) can cause oral mucositis (severe ulcers in the mouth). This painful condition can cause difficulties in eating, drinking and swallowing, and may also be associated with infections which may require the patient to stay longer in hospital. Different strategies are used to try and prevent this condition, and the review of trials found that some of these are effective. Two interventions, cryotherapy (ice chips) and keratinocyte growth factor (palifermin®) showed some benefit in preventing mucositis. Sucralfate is effective in reducing the severity of mucositis, and a further seven interventions, aloe vera, amifostine, intravenous glutamine, granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF), honey, laser and antibiotic lozenges containing polymixin/tobramycin/amphotericin (PTA) showed weaker evidence of benefit. These were evaluated in patients with different types of cancer, undergoing different types of cancer treatment. Benefits may be restricted to the disease and treatment combinations evaluated
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