Spike voltage topography in temporal lobe epilepsy

We investigated the voltage topography of interictal spikes in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) to see whether topography was related to etiology for TLE. Adults with TLE, who had epilepsy surgery for drug-resistant seizures from 2011 until 2014 at Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center were selected. Two groups of patients were studied: patients with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) on MRI and those with other MRI findings. The voltage topography maps of the interictal spikes at the peak were created using BESA software. We classified the interictal spikes as polar, basal, lateral, or others. Thirty-four patients were studied, from which the characteristics of 340 spikes were investigated. The most common type of spike orientation was others (186 spikes; 54.7%), followed by lateral (146; 42.9%), polar (5; 1.5%), and basal (3; 0.9%). Characteristics of the voltage topography maps of the spikes between the two groups of patients were somewhat different. Five spikes in patients with MTS had polar orientation, but none of the spikes in patients with other MRI findings had polar orientation (odds ratio = 6.98, 95% confidence interval = 0.38 to 127.38; p = 0.07). Scalp topographic mapping of interictal spikes has the potential to offer different information than visual inspection alone. The present results do not allow an immediate clinical application of our findings; however, detecting a polar spike in a patient with TLE may increase the possibility of mesial temporal sclerosis as the underlying etiology

Expressing a General Form as a Sum of Determinants

Let A= (a_{ij}) be a non-negative integer k x k matrix. A is a homogeneous matrix if a_{ij} + a_{kl}=a_{il} + a_{kj} for any choice of the four indexes. We ask: If A is a homogeneous matrix and if F is a form in C[x_1, \dots x_n] with deg(F) = trace(A), what is the least integer, s(A), so that F = det M_1 + ... + det M_{s(A)}, where the M_i's are k x k matrices of forms with degree matrix A? We consider this problem for n>3 and we prove that s(A) is at most k^{n-3} and s(A) <k^{n-3} in infinitely many cases. However s(A) = k^{n-3} when the entries of A are large with respect to k

Plasmonic Optical Tweezers based on Nanostructures: fundamentals, advances and prospects

The ability of metallic nanostructures to confine light at the sub-wavelength scale enables new perspectives and opportunities in the field of nanotechnology. Making use of this unique advantage, nano-optical trapping techniques have been developed to tackle new challenges in a wide range of areas from biology to quantum optics. In this work, starting from basic theories, we present a review of research progress in near-field optical manipulation techniques based on metallic nanostructures, with an emphasis on some of the most promising advances in molecular technology, such as the precise control of single-biomolecules. We also provide an overview of possible future research directions of nano-manipulation techniques.Comment: 19 page

Calcaneus fracture

This issue of eMedRef provides information to clinicians on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapeutics of calcaneus fractures

An accurate calculation of the nucleon axial charge with lattice QCD

We report on a lattice QCD calculation of the nucleon axial charge, $g_A$, using M\"{o}bius Domain-Wall fermions solved on the dynamical $N_f=2+1+1$ HISQ ensembles after they are smeared using the gradient-flow algorithm. The calculation is performed with three pion masses, $m_\pi\sim\{310,220,130\}$ MeV. Three lattice spacings ($a\sim\{0.15,0.12,0.09\}$ fm) are used with the heaviest pion mass, while the coarsest two spacings are used on the middle pion mass and only the coarsest spacing is used with the near physical pion mass. On the $m_\pi\sim220$ MeV, $a\sim0.12$ fm point, a dedicated volume study is performed with $m_\pi L \sim \{3.22,4.29,5.36\}$. Using a new strategy motivated by the Feynman-Hellmann Theorem, we achieve a precise determination of $g_A$ with relatively low statistics, and demonstrable control over the excited state, continuum, infinite volume and chiral extrapolation systematic uncertainties, the latter of which remains the dominant uncertainty. Our final determination at 2.6\% total uncertainty is $g_A = 1.278(21)(26)$, with the first uncertainty including statistical and systematic uncertainties from fitting and the second including model selection systematics related to the chiral and continuum extrapolation. The largest reduction of the second uncertainty will come from a greater number of pion mass points as well as more precise lattice QCD results near the physical pion mass.Comment: 17 pages + 11 pages of references and appendices. 15 figures. Interested readers can download the Python analysis scripts and an hdf5 data file at https://github.com/callat-qcd/project_gA_v

Calcaneal fractures: an audit of radiological outcome.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To assess radiological outcome of management of calcaneal fractures. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of calcanealfractures managed between February , 2008 and February, 2014 Cases were identified through medical records, and X-rays were reviewed through digital radiology archive. Bohler\\u27s angle, Gissane\\u27s angle, calcaneal height and width were assessed digitally on pre-operative and post-operative X-ray images. RESULTS: Of the27 patients, only 1(3.7%) was female. The cause of fracture was fall from height 15(56%), road traffic accidents 7(26%) and bomb blasts5(19%). Tongue type fractures were 16(59%) and 11(41%) were joint depression type. There was a significant mean increase in Bohler\\u27s angle (p0.05 each). CONCLUSIONS: Measurable improvement in anatomical parameters is possible with surgery, which is a prerequisite for good functional results

Co-processing of the arrowroot-chitosan by spray drying

Starch is one of the most widely used excipient in the manufacture of solid dosage forms. One of few problems associated with starch is its poor flowability so  can’t  used  as  excipient  in  direct  compression  tablet.  The  purpose  of  these studies  was  to  develop  of  the  arrowroot  starch  for  use  as  excipient  in  direct compression  tablet.  The  arrowroot  starch  was  co-processing  with  chitosan  by spray  drying.  The  suspension  of  arrowroot  starch-chitosan  for  feed  in  spray drying were prepared with three different ratios (1:1, 2:1 and 3:1). The product of  co-processing  were  evaluated  for  morphology,  moisture  content,  viscosity, angle  of  repose,  flow  rate  of  granules,  bulk  density,  tapped  density  and  Carr’s index.  Results  showed  that  co-process  excipient  of  arrowroot  starch-chitosan have  spherical  in  shape,  moisture  content  in  the  range  of  4.70–5.10  % w/w, viscosity  in  the  range  of   1.77-2.17  mPas,  angle  of repose  was  found  to  be  &lt; 380, flow rate of granules in the range of 1,5 – 4,0 g/s, bulk density in the range of  0.47-0.59 g/mL,  tapped  density  in  the  range of 0.59–0.79  g/mL  l and Carr’s index in the range of 19.03-25.08 %.Key words: arrowroot starch, co-process excipient, direct compressio