The Counterpart Principle of Analogical Support by Structural Similarity

We propose and investigate an Analogy Principle in the context of Unary Inductive Logic based on a notion of support by structural similarity which is often employed to motivate scientific conjectures

Effectiveness of Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A global framework for action to improve the primary care response to chronic non-communicable diseases: a solution to a neglected problem.

BACKGROUND: Although in developing countries the burden of morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases has often overshadowed that due to chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), there is evidence now of a shift of attention to NCDs. DISCUSSION: Decreasing the chronic NCD burden requires a two-pronged approach: implementation of the multisectoral policies aimed at decreasing population-level risks for NCDs, and effective and affordable delivery of primary care interventions for patients with chronic NCDs. The primary care response to common NCDs is often unstructured and inadequate. We therefore propose a programmatic, standardized approach to the delivery of primary care interventions for patients with NCDs, with a focus on hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic airflow obstruction, and obesity. The benefits of this approach will extend to patients with related conditions, e.g. those with chronic kidney disease caused by hypertension or diabetes. This framework for a "public health approach" is informed by experience of scaling up interventions for chronic infectious diseases (tuberculosis and HIV). The lessons learned from progress in rolling out these interventions include the importance of gaining political commitment, developing a robust strategy, delivering standardised interventions, and ensuring rigorous monitoring and evaluation of progress towards defined targets. The goal of the framework is to reduce the burden of morbidity, disability and premature mortality related to NCDs through a primary care strategy which has three elements: 1) identify and address modifiable risk factors, 2) screen for common NCDs and 3) and diagnose, treat and follow-up patients with common NCDs using standard protocols. The proposed framework for NCDs borrows the same elements as those developed for tuberculosis control, comprising a goal, strategy and targets for NCD control, a package of interventions for quality care, key operations for national implementation of these interventions (political commitment, case-finding among people attending primary care services, standardised diagnostic and treatment protocols, regular drug supply, and systematic monitoring and evaluation), and indicators to measure progress towards increasing the impact of primary care interventions on chronic NCDs. The framework needs evaluation, then adaptation in different settings. SUMMARY: A framework for a programmatic "public health approach" has the potential to improve on the current unstructured approach to primary care of people with chronic NCDs. Research to establish the cost, value and feasibility of implementing the framework will pave the way for international support to extend the benefit of this approach to the millions of people worldwide with chronic NCDs

Necessity and concerns about lipid-lowering medical treatments and risk factors for non-adherence: A cross-sectional study in Palestine

Aims: Strong evidence indicates that drugs reduce blood lipids and improve cardiovascular end-points, leading to their wide usage. However, the success of these drugs can be affected by poor patient's adherence to prescribed medication. This study aimed to evaluate medication adherence in patients with dyslipidaemia in association with patient beliefs about medicines. Methods: The study was conducted from January 2019 to July 2019 at the middle governmental primary healthcare clinics in Ramallah and Bethlehem cities, and used a cross-sectional design. Adherence was determined using the 4-item Morisky medication adherence scale, while beliefs were determined using the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire. Results: Of 220 patients, 185 agreed to participate in the study, resulting in a response rate of 84.1%. Of the participants, 106 (57.3%) were men, and almost half (88, 46.5%) were ≥56 years. Medication non-adherence was high (47.6%), but a majority (65.5%) reported believing their treatment to be necessary for their continued good health. Accordingly, the mean necessity score (17.3, SD 3.7) significantly outweighed (P < .001) the mean concerns score (14.0, SD 3.5). Multivariate regression demonstrated four variables to be significantly correlated with non-adherence: illiterate (OR = 2.52; CI: 0.9-4.3; P = .03), polypharmacy (OR = 3.18; CI: 1.9-5.7; P = .007), having comorbidity (OR = 3.10; CI: 2.2-4.6; P = .005) and having concerns about side effects (OR = 2.89; CI: 1.1-4.6, P = .04). Conclusion: Non-adherence among patients taking lipid-lowering agents was high despite most holding positive beliefs regarding medication necessity. This may be due to concern also being high. Physicians should identify and target high-risk patients and individualise their treatment plans in order to achieve adequate control of dyslipidaemia.We thank all workers at health clinics at Ramallah and Bethlehem who helped in finishing this study and also we thank the participants who willingly accepted to share for the purpose of this study

Low Source/Drain Contact Resistance for AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with High Al Concentration and Si-HP [111] Substrate

An optimized fabrication process of ohmic contacts is proposed to reduce the source/drain access resistance (RC) and enhance DC/RF performance of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with a high Al concentration. We show that source/drain RC can be considerably lowered by (i) optimally etching into the barrier layer using Ar+ ion beam, and by (ii) forming recessed contact metallization using an optimized Ti/Al/Ni/Au (12 nm/200 nm/40 nm/100 nm) multilayers. We found that a low RC of ∼0.3 Ω.mm can be achieved by etching closer to the 2-Dimensional Electron Gas (2DEG) at an optimum etching depth, 75% of the barrier thickness, followed by a rapid thermal annealing at 850°C. This is due to the very small distance between the alloy and the 2DEG (higher electric field) as shown by 2D drift-diffusion simulations combined with Transmission Line Model (TLM) extractions

A New Class of Nonsingular Exact Solutions for Laplacian Pattern Formation

We present a new class of exact solutions for the so-called {\it Laplacian Growth Equation} describing the zero-surface-tension limit of a variety of 2D pattern formation problems. Contrary to common belief, we prove that these solutions are free of finite-time singularities (cusps) for quite general initial conditions and may well describe real fingering instabilities. At long times the interface consists of N separated moving Saffman-Taylor fingers, with ``stagnation points'' in between, in agreement with numerous observations. This evolution resembles the N-soliton solution of classical integrable PDE's.Comment: LaTeX, uuencoded postscript file

A Source and Drain Transient Currents Technique for Trap Characterisation in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

The source/drain and gate induced charge trapping within an AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor is studied, under normal device operation, by excluding self-heating effects, for the first time. Through direct measurement of current transients of both source and drain terminals, a characterisation technique has been developed to: (i) analyse the transient current degradations from μs to seconds, and (ii) evaluate the drain and gate induced charge trapping mechanisms. Two degradation mechanisms of current are observed: bulk trapping at a short time (1ms). The bulk charge trapping is found to occur during both ON and OFF states of the device when VDS>0V; where its trapping time constant is independent of bias conditions. In addition, the time constant of the slower current degradation is found to be mainly dependent on surface trapping and redistribution, not by the second heat transient

The MINERν\nuA Data Acquisition System and Infrastructure

MINER$\nu$A (Main INjector ExpeRiment $\nu$-A) is a new few-GeV neutrino cross section experiment that began taking data in the FNAL NuMI (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Neutrinos at the Main Injector) beam-line in March of 2010. MINER$\nu$A employs a fine-grained scintillator detector capable of complete kinematic characterization of neutrino interactions. This paper describes the MINER$\nu$A data acquisition system (DAQ) including the read-out electronics, software, and computing architecture.Comment: 34 pages, 16 figure

Testing nonperturbative techniques in the scalar sector of the standard model

We discuss the current picture of the standard model's scalar sector at strong coupling. We compare the pattern observed in the scalar sector in perturbation theory up to two-loop with the nonperturbative solution obtained by a next-to-leading order 1/N expansion. In particular, we analyze two resonant Higgs scattering processes, ff -> H -> f'f' and ff -> H -> ZZ, WW. We describe the ingredients of the nonperturbative calculation, such as the tachyonic regularization, the higher order 1/N intermediate renormalization, and the numerical methods for evaluating the graphs. We discuss briefly the perspectives and usefulness of extending these nonperturbative methods to other theories

Robotic Platform Rabit for Condition Assessment of Concrete Bridge Decks Using Multiple NDE Technologies

Current assessment of concrete bridge decks relies on visual inspection and use of simple nondestructive and destructive evaluations. More advanced, but still manual nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies provide more comprehensive assessment. Still, due to a lower speed of data collection and still not automated data analysis and interpretation, they are not used on a regular basis. The development and implementation of a fully autonomous robotic system for condition assessment of concrete bridge decks using multiple nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies is described. The system named RABIT (Robotics Assisted Bridge Inspection Tool) resolves issues related to the speed of data collection and analysis. The system concentrates on the characterization of internal deterioration and damage, in particular three most common deterioration types in concrete bridge decks: rebar corrosion, delamination, and concrete degradation. For those purposes, RABIT implements four NDE technologies: electrical resistivity (ER), impact echo (IE), ultrasonic surface waves (USW) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Because the system utilizes multiple probes or large sensor arrays for the four NDE technologies, the spatial resolution of the results is significantly improved. The technologies are used in a complementary way to enhance the overall condition assessment and certainty regarding the detected deterioration. In addition, the system utilizes three high resolution cameras to image the surface of the deck for crack mapping and documentation of previous repairs, and to image larger areas of the bridge for inventory purposes. Finally, the robot’s data visualization platform facilitates an intuitive 3-dimensional presentation of the main three deterioration types and deck surface features