Equilibrium orbit analysis in a free-electron laser with a coaxial wiggler

An analysis of single-electron orbits in combined coaxial wiggler and axial guide magnetic fields is presented. Solutions of the equations of motion are developed in a form convenient for computing orbital velocity components and trajectories in the radially dependent wiggler. Simple analytical solutions are obtained in the radially-uniform-wiggler approximation and a formula for the derivative of the axial velocity $v_{\|}$ with respect to Lorentz factor $\gamma$ is derived. Results of numerical computations are presented and the characteristics of the equilibrium orbits are discussed. The third spatial harmonic of the coaxial wiggler field gives rise to group $III$ orbits which are characterized by a strong negative mass regime.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, to appear in phys. rev.

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) effects on serum paraoxanase-1 activity

زمینه و هدف: گیاه خرفه یکی از غنی ترین منابع گیاهی دارای اسید های چرب امگا 3 می باشد و مواد آنتی اکسیدان و عناصر معدنی متعدد در بخش های مختلف این گیاه وجود دارد. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی تاثیر گیاه خرفه بر سطح لیپوپروتئین ها به ویژه لیپوپروتئین های با دانسیته پایین اکسیده (OxLDL) و فعالیت آنزیم پاراکسوناز1 و مقایسه آن با اثر لواستاتین انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه کارآزمایی بالینی از بین بیماران مراجعه کننده به پزشک متخصص داخلی کلینیک تخصصی بیمارستان آیت اله کاشانی شهرکرد، 93 بیمار که دارای LDL بیشتر از mg/dl 100 بودند به روش در دسترس انتخاب و به دو گروه دریافت کننده روزانه 50 تا 60 گرم خرفه خام و گروه دریافت کننده روزانه mg/day20 لواستاتین تقسیم شدند. در شروع مطالعه و 45 روز پس از مصرف خرفه و لواستاتین از همه افراد دو گروه 5 میلی لیتر خون به صورت ناشتا گرفته و بر روی نمونه ها آزمایشات مربوط با روشهای استاندارد انجام شده و نتایج بدست آمده از طریق آزمون های آماری t و t زوجی مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. یافته ها: مصرف خرفه و لواستاتین باعث کاهش در کلسترول تام، LDL-C و OxLDL شد (05/0

Ultrasound Image Filtering and Reconstruction Using DCT/IDCT Filter Structure

In this paper, a new recursive structure based on the convolution model of discrete cosine transform (DCT) for designing of a finite impulse response (FIR) digital filter is proposed. In our derivation, we start with the convolution model of DCT-II to use its Z-transform for the proposed filter structure perspective. Moreover, using the same algorithm, a filter base implementation of the inverse DCT (IDCT) for image reconstruction is developed. The computational time experiments of the proposed DCT/IDCT filter(s) demonstrate that the proposed filters achieve faster elapsed CPU time compared to the direct recursive structures and recursive algorithms for the DCT/IDCT with Arbitrary Length. Experimental results on clinical ultrasound images and comparisons with classical Wiener filter, non-local mean (NLM) filter and total variation (TV) algorithms are used to validate the improvements of the proposed approaches in both noise reduction and reconstruction performance for ultrasound images

Comparing performance of dry and gel EEG electrodes in VR using MI paradigms

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) are an emerging technology with numerous applications. Electroencephalogram (EEG) motor imagery (MI) is among the most common BCI paradigms and has been used extensively in healthcare applications such as post-stroke rehabilitation. Using a Virtual Reality (VR) game, Push Me, we con-ducted a pilot study to compare MI accuracy with Gel or active-dry EEG electrodes. The motivation was to (1) investigate the MI paradigm in a VR environment and (2) compare MI accuracy using active dry and gel electrodes with different Machine Learning (ML)classifications (SVM, KNN and RF). The results indicate that while gel-based electrodes, in combination with SVM, achieved the high-est accuracy, dry electrode EEG caps achieved similar outcomes, especially with SVM and KNN models

Prevalence and distribution of adhesins and the expression of fibronectin-binding protein (FnbA and FnbB) among Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Shahrekord Hospitals

OBJECTIVE: One of the most important causes of nosocomial infections is Staphylococcus aureus. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of these genes and the rate of expression of these genes during nasal colonization among the personnel of Kashani and Hajar hospitals. RESULTS: In this Analytical-descriptive study, 240 nasal swab specimens were collected from personnel of different departments of Kashani and Hajar hospitals in Shahr-e-kord. Nasal specimens were cultured and 110 Staphylococcus strains were isolated. Based on the results, 110 carriers of Staphylococcus aureus were identified. The frequency of clfA, clfB, fnbA and fnbB genes were 36.3%, 86.3%, 7.2% and 43.6% respectively. It was also observed that the fnbA gene showed no expression, but of 95 clfB-positive samples, 73 isolates (76.8%) were expressed clfB gene. This study showed that the abundance of these genes varies in nasal colonization. It was also observed that clfB gene with a high frequency and high expression rate has an important role in nose colonization. These results not only provide insight into the factors involved in S. aureus colonization but also provide potential therapeutic target

Testing the Reliability of Optical Coherence Tomography to Measure Epidermal Thickness and Distinguish Volar and Nonvolar Skin

In persons with limb loss, prosthetic devices cause skin breakdown, largely because residual limb skin (nonvolar) is not intended to bear weight such as palmoplantar (volar) skin. Before evaluation of treatment efficacy to improve skin resiliency, efforts are needed to establish normative data and assess outcome metric reliability. The purpose of this study was to use optical coherence tomography to (i) characterize volar and nonvolar skin epidermal thickness and (ii) examine the reliability of optical coherence tomography. Four orientations of optical coherence tomography images were collected on 33 volunteers (6 with limb loss) at 2 time points, and the epidermis was traced to quantify thickness by 3 evaluators. Epidermal thickness was greater (P \u3c .01) for volar skin (palm) (265.1 ± 50.9 μm, n = 33) than for both nonvolar locations: posterior thigh (89.8 ± 18.1 μm, n = 27) or residual limb (93.4 ± 27.4 μm, n = 6). The inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficient was high for volar skin (0.887–0.956) but low for nonvolar skin (thigh: 0.292–0.391, residual limb: 0.211–0.580). Correlation improved when comparing only 2 evaluators who used the same display technique (palm: 0.827–0.940, thigh: 0.633–0.877, residual limb: 0.213–0.952). Despite poor inter-rater agreement for nonvolar skin, perhaps due to challenges in identifying the dermal–epidermal junction, this study helps to support the utility of optical coherence tomography to distinguish volar from nonvolar skin

Development of low blood glucose readings in nine non-diabetic patients treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Treatment with various biological agents in disease states such as rheumatoid arthritis has been associated with multiple side effects. Whereas many of these are frequently reported in the literature, hypoglycemia, a possible side effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, may be underpublicized.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report nine cases of non-diabetic Caucasian women who were between 29 and 68 years of age and who developed low glucose readings after treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors. We provide a more detailed discussion of existing evidence of the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the pathogenesis of inflammation and its impact on glycemic equilibrium.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Physicians using tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors in the treatment of various rheumatic and other autoimmune diseases should be aware of the potential for the development of glycemic disturbance in these patients. A further role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors in the glycemic equilibrium warrants larger controlled trials in patients with and those without a history of diabetes.</p

Association of anthropometric measures with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in normal-weight children and adolescents: The CASPIAN III study

Objective: This nationwide study was conducted to determine the association of anthropometric measures with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Iranian normal-weight children and adolescents. Methods: We analyzed the data of 3,565 children and adolescents (50.3 boys), aged 10-18 years, with a normal BMI (5th-84th percentile) obtained from the third survey of 'Childhood and Adolescence Surveillance and Prevention of Adult Non-communicable Disease' (CASPIAN III) study. The diagnostic criteria for MetS were defined by the International Diabetes Federation consensus. Results: The prevalence of MetS for 10- to 13.9-year-old boys, 14- to 18-year-old boys, 10- to 13.9-year-old girls, and 14- to 18-year-old girls were 1.4, 2.8, 2.3, and 3.3, respectively. After adjustment for age and sex, each unit increase in BMI (within normal range) and waist circumference increased the odds of MetS from 6 to 72 and from 1 to 20, respectively. The dominant pattern of dyslipidemia among the participants was high triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conclusion: This study complements recent research about the high frequency of metabolic risk factors among normal-weight individuals in the pediatric age group. © 2013 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg

Altered maternal profiles in corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 deficient mice

BACKGROUND: During lactation, the CNS is less responsive to the anxiogenic neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). Further, central injections of CRF inhibit maternal aggression and some maternal behaviors, suggesting decreased CRF neurotransmission during lactation supports maternal behaviors. In this study, we examined the maternal profile of mice missing the CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1). Offspring of knockout (CRFR1-/-) mice were heterozygote to offset possible deleterious effects of low maternal glucocorticoids on pup survival and all mice contained a mixed 50:50 inbred/outbred background to improve overall maternal profiles and fecundity. RESULTS: Relative to littermate wild-type (WT) controls, CRFR1-/- mice exhibited significant deficits in total time nursing, including high arched-back, on each test day. Consistent with decreased nursing, pups of CRFR1-deficient dams weighed significantly less than WT offspring. Licking and grooming of pups was significantly higher in WT mice on postpartum Day 2 and when both test days were averaged, but not on Day 3. Time off nest was higher for CRFR1-/- mice on Day 2, but not on Day 3 or when test days were averaged. Licking and grooming of pups did not differ on Day 2 when this measure was examined as a proportion of time on nest. CRFR1-/- mice showed significantly higher nest building on Day 3 and when tests were averaged. Mean pup number was almost identical between groups and no pup mortality occurred. Maternal aggression was consistently lower in CRFR1-/- mice and in some measures these differences approached, but did not reach significance. Because of high variance, general aggression results are viewed as preliminary. In terms of sites of attacks on intruders, CRFR1-/- mice exhibited significantly fewer attacks to the belly of the intruder on Day 5 and when tests were averaged. Performance on the elevated plus maze was similar between genotypes. Egr-1 expression differences in medial preoptic nucleus and c-Fos expression differences in bed nucleus of stria terminalis between genotype suggest possible sites where loss of gene alters behavioral output. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the results suggest that the presence of an intact CRFR1 receptor supports some aspects of nurturing behavior