Strong-Coupling Calculation of Fluctuation Pressure of a Membrane Between Walls

We calculate analytically the proportionality constant in the pressure law of a membrane between parallel walls from the strong-coupling limit of variational perturbation theory up to third order. Extrapolating the zeroth to third approximations to infinity yields the pressure constant alpha=0.0797149. This result lies well within the error bounds of the most accurate available Monte-Carlo result 0.0798 +- 0.0003.Comment: Author Information under http://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/~kleinert/institution.html . Latest update of paper also at http://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/~kleinert/28

Conformational Mechanics of Polymer Adsorption Transitions at Attractive Substrates

Conformational phases of a semiflexible off-lattice homopolymer model near an attractive substrate are investigated by means of multicanonical computer simulations. In our polymer-substrate model, nonbonded pairs of monomers as well as monomers and the substrate interact via attractive van der Waals forces. To characterize conformational phases of this hybrid system, we analyze thermal fluctuations of energetic and structural quantities, as well as adequate docking parameters. Introducing a solvent parameter related to the strength of the surface attraction, we construct and discuss the solubility-temperature phase diagram. Apart from the main phases of adsorbed and desorbed conformations, we identify several other phase transitions such as the freezing transition between energy-dominated crystalline low-temperature structures and globular entropy-dominated conformations.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figure

Laservaporisation der Prostata: Aktueller Stellenwert des Greenlight- und Diodenlasers

Zusammenfassung: Die Laservaporisation der Prostata hat sich in den letzten 10Jahren als sichere und effektive Alternative zur TURP etabliert. Die photoselektive Vaporisation der Prostata (PVP) hat seit der Einführung des 532nm 80-W-KTP-Lasers im Jahr 2002 maßgeblich zu dieser Entwicklung beigetragen. Ergebnisse prospektiv randomisierter Studien zu PVP und TURP mit einem maximalen Beobachtungszeitraum von 3Jahren zeigen mehrheitlich vergleichbare funktionelle Resultate. Zahlreiche Kohortenstudien belegen zudem die sichere Anwendung der PVP bei Patienten unter oraler Antikoagulation sowie bei großem Prostatavolumen. Zur Laservaporisation der Prostata mit dem Diodenlaser stehen Systeme verschiedener Hersteller zur Verfügung, welche sich in maximaler Laserleistung und Wellenlänge unterschieden. Daher kann nicht von dem Diodenlaser per se gesprochen werden. Bisher fehlen zu Diodenlasern Resultate prospektiv randomisierter Studien im Vergleich mit TURP. In Kohortenstudien oder Vergleichsstudien zur PVP zeichnet sich der Diodenlaser v.a. durch eine ausgeprägte Hämostase aus. Bezüglich der funktionellen Resultate zeigt sich ein uneinheitliches Bild mit teilweise hohen Reoperationsrate

Development of a triple GEM UV-photon detector operated in pure CF4 for the PHENIX experiment

Results obtained with a triple GEM detector operated in pure CF4 with and without a reflective CsI photocathode are presented. The detector operates in a stable mode at gains up to 10^4. A deviation from exponential growth starts to develop when the total charge exceeds ~ 4 10^6 e leading to gain saturation when the total charge is ~ 2 10^7 e and making the structure relatively robust against discharges. No aging effects are observed in the GEM foils after a total accumulated charge of ~ 10 mC/cm^2 at the anode. The ion back-flow current to the reflective photocathode is comparable to the electron current to the anode. However, no significant degradation of the CsI photocathode is observed for a total ion back-flow charge of ~ 7 mC/cm^2.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, Submitted to NIM

Evaluation of a multidisciplinary Tier 3 weight management service for adults with morbid obesity, or obesity and comorbidities, based in primary care

A multidisciplinary Tier 3 weight management service in primary care recruited patients with a body mass index ≥40 kg·m−2, or 30 kg·m−2 with obesity-related co-morbidity to a 1-year programme. A cohort of 230 participants was recruited and evaluated using the National Obesity Observatory Standard Evaluation Framework. The primary outcome was weight loss of at least 5% of baseline weight at 12 months. Diet was assessed using the two-item food frequency questionnaire, activity using the General Practice Physical Activity questionnaire and quality of life using the EuroQol-5D-5L questionnaire. A focus group explored the participants' experiences. Baseline mean weight was 124.4 kg and mean body mass index was 44.1 kg·m−2. A total of 102 participants achieved 5% weight loss at 12 months. The mean weight loss was 10.2 kg among the 117 participants who completed the 12-month programme. Baseline observation carried forward analysis gave a mean weight loss of 5.9 kg at 12 months. Fruit and vegetable intake, activity level and quality of life all improved. The dropout rate was 14.3% at 6 months and 45.1% at 1 year. Focus group participants described high levels of satisfaction. It was possible to deliver a Tier 3 weight management service for obese patients with complex co-morbidity in a primary care setting with a full multidisciplinary team, which obtained good health outcomes compared with existing services

Fluctuation Pressure of a Stack of Membranes

We calculate the universal pressure constants of a stack of N membranes between walls by strong-coupling theory. The results are in very good agreement with values from Monte-Carlo simulations.Comment: Author Information under http://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/~kleinert/institution.html Latest update of paper also at http://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/~kleinert/31