895 research outputs found
Allopurinol use yields potentially beneficial effects on inflammatory indices in those with recent ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
<p><b>Background and Purpose</b>: Elevated serum uric acid level is associated with poor outcome and increased risk of recurrent events after stroke. The xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol lowers uric acid but also attenuates expression of inflammatory adhesion molecules in murine models, reduces oxidative stress in the vasculature, and improves endothelial function. We sought to investigate whether allopurinol alters expression of inflammatory markers after acute ischemic stroke.</p>
<p><b>Methods</b>: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the safety, tolerability, and effect of 6 weeks’ treatment with high- (300 mg once a day) or low- (100 mg once a day) dose allopurinol on levels of uric acid and circulating inflammatory markers after ischemic stroke.</p>
<p><b>Results</b>: We enrolled 50 patients with acute ischemic stroke (17, 17, and 16 in the high, low, and placebo groups, respectively). Mean (±SD) age was 70 (±13) years. Groups had similar characteristics at baseline. There were no serious adverse events. Uric acid levels were significantly reduced at both 7 days and 6 weeks in the high-dose group (by 0.14 mmol/L at 6 weeks, P=0.002). Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 concentration (ng/mL) rose by 51.2 in the placebo group, rose slightly (by 10.6) in the low-dose allopurinol group, but fell in the high-dose group (by 2.6; difference between groups P=0.012, Kruskal-Wallis test).</p>
<p><b>Conclusion</b>: Allopurinol treatment is well tolerated and attenuates the rise in intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels seen after stroke. Uric acid levels were lowered with high doses. These findings support further evaluation of allopurinol as a preventive measure after stroke.</p>
Relativistic nuclear structure effects in quasielastic neutrino scattering
Charged-current cross sections are calculated for quasielastic neutrino and
antineutrino scattering using a relativistic meson-nucleon model. We examine
how nuclear-structure effects, such as relativistic random-phase-approximation
(RPA) corrections and momentum-dependent nucleon self-energies, influence the
extraction of the axial form factor of the nucleon. RPA corrections are
important only at low-momentum transfers. In contrast, the momentum dependence
of the relativistic self-energies changes appreciably the value of the
axial-mass parameter, , extracted from dipole fits to the axial form
factor. Using Brookhaven's experimental neutrino spectrum we estimate the
sensitivity of M to various relativistic nuclear-structure effects.Comment: 26 pages, revtex, 6 postscript figures (available upon request
Large time asymptotics in contaminant transport in porous media
In this paper we derive large time solutions of the partial differential equations modelling contaminant transport in porous media for initial data with bounded support. While the main emphasis is on two space dimensions, for the sake of completeness we give a brief summary of the corresponding results for one space dimension. The philosophy behind the paper is to compare the results of a formal asymptotic analysis of the governing equations as with numerical solutions of the complete initial value problem. The analytic results are obtained using the method of dominant balance which identifies the dominant terms in the model equations determining the behaviour of the solution in the large time limit. These are found in terms of time scaled space similarity variables and the procedure results in a reduction of the number of independent variables in the original partial differential equation. This generates what we call a reduced equation, the solution of which depends crucially on the value of a parameter appearing in the problem. In some cases the reduced equation can be solved explicitly, while others have a particularly intractable structure which inhibits any analytic or numerical progress. However, we can extract a number of global and local properties of the solution, which enables us to form a reasonably complete picture of what the profiles look like. Extensive comparison with numerical solution of the original initial value problem provides convincing confirmation of our analytic solutions. In the final section of the paper, by way of motivation for the work, we give some results concerning the temporal behaviour of certain moments of the two-dimensional profiles commonly used to compute physical parameter characteristics for contaminant transport in porous media
Quantum energy inequalities and local covariance II: Categorical formulation
We formulate Quantum Energy Inequalities (QEIs) in the framework of locally
covariant quantum field theory developed by Brunetti, Fredenhagen and Verch,
which is based on notions taken from category theory. This leads to a new
viewpoint on the QEIs, and also to the identification of a new structural
property of locally covariant quantum field theory, which we call Local
Physical Equivalence. Covariant formulations of the numerical range and
spectrum of locally covariant fields are given and investigated, and a new
algebra of fields is identified, in which fields are treated independently of
their realisation on particular spacetimes and manifestly covariant versions of
the functional calculus may be formulated.Comment: 27 pages, LaTeX. Further discussion added. Version to appear in
General Relativity and Gravitatio
Vacuum-UV negative photoion spectroscopy of CH4
Using synchrotron radiation in the range 12-35 eV, negative ions are detected by mass spectrometry following vacuum-UV photoexcitation of methane. Ion yields for H, CH and CH are recorded, the spectra of CH and CH for the first time. All ions display a linear dependence of signal with pressure, showing that they arise from unimolecular ion-pair dissociation. Cross sections for ion-pair formation are put onto an absolute scale by calibrating the signal strengths with those of F from SF and CF. Following normalisation to total vacuum-UV absorption cross sections, quantum yields for anion production are reported. There is a major discrepancy in the H cross section with an earlier measurement, which remains unresolved. The anions arise from both direct and indirect ion-pair mechanisms. For a generic polyatomic molecule AB, the former is defined as AB A + B (+ neutrals), the latter as the predissociative crossing of an initially-excited Rydberg state of AB by an ion-pair state. In a separate experiment, the threshold photoelectron spectrum of the second valence band of CH, ionisation to CH A A at 22.4 eV, is recorded with an instrumental resolution of 0.004 eV; many of the Rydberg states observed in indirect ion-pair formation converge to this state. The widths of the peaks are lifetime limited, increasing with increasing in the (a) vibrational ladder. They are the first direct measurement of an upper value to the dissociation rate of these levels into fragment ions
Understanding the scabbling of concrete using microwave energy
This paper reports on the use of microwave energy to scabble concrete. While the technique is not new, little information exists relating to the controllability of the process, the effect of different types of concrete and the performance and durability of the scabbled concrete post treatment. Concrete blocks supplied by the UK Sellafield nuclear site were treated with microwave energy using a 15kW system, operating at 2.45GHz. The effect of aggregate type (Whinstone, Gravel and Limestone); standoff distance; and effect of surface coating were studied to determine their influence on the systems performance, in terms of mass and area removal rates. Complimentary modelling studies were undertaken relating the power density of the microwave energy to observed scabbling profile. Mass and area removal rates averaged 11.3gs-1 and 3cms-1 respectively on treating large areas to a depth of 25mm. The process was shown to not adversely affect structural properties of the specimens after treatment
Self-consistent description of nuclear compressional modes
Isoscalar monopole and dipole compressional modes are computed for a variety
of closed-shell nuclei in a relativistic random-phase approximation to three
different parametrizations of the Walecka model with scalar self-interactions.
Particular emphasis is placed on the role of self-consistency which by itself,
and with little else, guarantees the decoupling of the spurious
isoscalar-dipole strength from the physical response and the conservation of
the vector current. A powerful new relation is introduced to quantify the
violation of the vector current in terms of various ground-state form-factors.
For the isoscalar-dipole mode two distinct regions are clearly identified: (i)
a high-energy component that is sensitive to the size of the nucleus and scales
with the compressibility of the model and (ii) a low-energy component that is
insensitivity to the nuclear compressibility. A fairly good description of both
compressional modes is obtained by using a ``soft'' parametrization having a
compression modulus of K=224 MeV.Comment: 28 pages and 10 figures; submitted to PR
InGaN micro-LEDs integrated onto an ultra-thin, colloidal quantum dot functionalized glass platform
We demonstrate an integrated color-converting device by transfer printing blue-emitting micro-sized InGaN LEDs onto an ultra-thin glass platform functionally enhanced with colloidal quantum dots. Color conversion and waveguiding properties of the structure are presented
Variable Effects of Snow Conditions Across Boreal Mesocarnivore Species
Mesocarnivores are increasingly recognized as key drivers of community dynamics, but the effects of bottom-up and abiotic factors on mesocarnivore populations remain poorly understood. We evaluated the effects of snow conditions, prey abundance, and habitat type on the distribution of five sympatric mesocarnivore species in interior Alaska using repeated snow track surveys and occupancy modelling. Snow depth and snow compaction were the best predictors of mesocarnivore occupancy, with differential effects across species. Coyotes (Canis latrans (Say, 1823)) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes L., 1758) occurred in areas of shallow, compact snow, Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis (Kerr, 1792)) occurred in areas of shallow, fluffy snow, and wolverines (Gulo gulo L., 1758) and marten (Martes americana (Turton, 1806)) occurred in areas of deep, fluffy snow. These findings indicate that altered snow conditions due to climate change may have strong direct effects on the distribution of northern mesocarnivores, with divergent effects across species
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