1,473 research outputs found
Muon spin rotation study of the topological superconductor SrxBi2Se3
We report transverse-field (TF) muon spin rotation experiments on single
crystals of the topological superconductor SrBiSe with nominal
concentrations and ( K). The TF spectra (
mT), measured after cooling to below in field, did not show any
additional damping of the muon precession signal due to the flux line lattice
within the experimental uncertainty. This puts a lower bound on the magnetic
penetration depth m. However, when we induce disorder in
the vortex lattice by changing the magnetic field below a sizeable
damping rate is obtained for . The data provide microscopic
evidence for a superconducting volume fraction of in the
crystal and thus bulk superconductivity.Comment: 6 pages, includes 4 figure
Preliminary results of a phase II randomized study to determine the efficacy and safety of genetically engineered allogeneic human chondrocytes expressing TGF-Ī²1 in patients with grade 3 chronic degenerative joint disease of the knee
SummaryObjectiveThe aim of this study was to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of injectable genetically engineered chondrocytes virally transduced with TGF-Ī²1 (GEC-TGF-Ī²1) compared to placebo.DesignA multi-center, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized study of adults with knee osteoarthritis. A total of 102 patients were 2:1 randomized to GEC-TGF-Ī²1 or placebo. Primary outcomes assessed were (1) function of the knee joint, scored using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC); and (2) pain, measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary endpoints assessed were pain and analgesic use, quality of life (QOL), and adverse events (AEs) including need for total knee arthroplasty after treatment.ResultsIKDC showed significant improvement in the GEC-TGF-Ī²1 group over the placebo at weekĀ 12 (least mean square difference (LSMD): 10.3; PĀ =Ā 0.0342), week 52 (LSMD: 13.6; PĀ =Ā 0.0082), and overall (LSMD: 8.6; PĀ =Ā 0.0453). VAS Analysis showed a significant improvement in GEC-TGF-Ī²1 group compared to placebo at weeks 12 (LSMD:Ā ā13.8; PĀ =Ā 0.0162), 52 (LSMD:Ā ā13.1; PĀ =Ā 0.0332), and overall (LSMD:Ā ā10.1; PĀ =Ā 0.0350). Reduction in pain severity at week 12 and 52, frequency at 24Ā h and week 52, and the percentage of patients in the GEC-TGF-Ī²1 group receiving analgesics at week 4 (27 vs 40%) and 12 (27 vs 37%) was observed.ConclusionsGEC-TGF-Ī²1 patients had more positive responses on the IKDC, VAS, and were less likely to require analgesics.Trial Number: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01221441) ā āStudy of TG-C in Patients with Grade 3 Degenerative Joint Disease of the Kneeā
Isolated bilateral simplex ureteric ectopia: Bladder capacity as an indicator of continence outcome
INTRODUCTION:
Isolated bilateral simplex ectopic ureters (BSEUs) are rare but pose a therapeutic challenge: ureteric reimplantation alone does not accomplish continence in all. Identifying the patients needing additional procedures for continence early could prevent multiple operations.
OBJECTIVE:
Potential preoperative indicators for postoperative continence are explored in eight BSEU girls without cloacal, anorectal, or spinal anomalies.
STUDY DESIGN:
With institutional approval, all patients with BSEU between 1985 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Cystoscopy determined the site of ureteric ectopia (6 of 16 at the bladder neck [BN], 5 of 16 below the BN, and 5 of 16 in the distal urethra). Bladders were assessed by a combination of ultrasound, urodynamics, micturating cystourethrogram, cystoscopic, and intraoperative observations. Expected bladder capacity for age (EBCA) was calculated by 30 ml + (30 ml Ć age in years) or 38 ml + (2.5 ml Ć age in months) for children greater or less than 2 years, respectively. Continence outcomes were appraised at a minimum of 4 years. The small number of patients precludes credible statistical analysis and therefore raw data are presented.
RESULTS:
Patients underwent cross-trigonal ureteric reimplantation at 1ā5.5 years, in five without BN surgery and in three with a YoungāDeesāLeadbetter BN tightening. Of those without BN surgery at reimplantation, four achieved satisfactory continence for their age, but one has had multiple procedures culminating in BN closure, ileocystoplasty, and Mitrofanoff. Among the BN-tightening group, one was in nappies at 4 years, one had residual stress incontinence after two further BN injections, and one proceeded to artificial urinary sphincter after two BN injections. Five patients had significant renal impairment.
DISCUSSION:
Patients with satisfactory continence after reimplantation alone and those needing further procedures tended to differ in their preoperative observations of bladder capacity and apparent BN competence. This study suggests preoperative observations of an empty bladder on serial ultrasound and/or a wide-open BN with small or even moderate bladder capacity at cystoscopy to indicate the need for BN surgery. In contrast, children with bladder filling to at least 30% of expected bladder capacity for age on preoperative ultrasound or apposition of the BN at cystoscopy may achieve satisfactory continence after ureteric reimplantation alone. Bladder capacity as an indicator of BN competence can also be correlated to continence outcomes in previously published series. Polyuria associated with renal impairment can exacerbate the challenge for continence.
CONCLUSION:
Preoperative bladder capacity appears to be an indicator of inherent BN function and a thorough assessment of the urinary tract by cystoscopy, ultrasound, micturating cystourethrogram, and functional imaging may guide the surgeon on the need for BN surgery at the time of ureteric reimplantation. Where continence remains elusive, patients should be counselled that a further BN injection is occasionally of value although more significant BN procedures are required for most
Temporary LabourāMigration System and Longāterm Residence Strategies in the United Arab Emirates
Ā© 2019 The Authors. International Migration Ā© 2019 IOM The United Arab Emiratesā migration system, the sponsorshipābased kafala system, is defined as a temporary labourāmigration regime. Although there are policies making permanent residence unattainable for virtually all migrants, it is still relevant to explore the temporality of migrations in the UAE. The purpose of this study is to investigate developments in migration, migration policies and population trends in the country, including trends that concern the duration of migrantsā stay. We also identify some of the major strategies used by migrants to prolong their sojourn in the UAE. It is maintained that the migrant stock has increased continuously in the last decades and that a large number of migrants devise strategies to continue their residence and remain in the country for years. The authors also identify and discuss migrantsā transition within and in-between regularity and irregularity, and analyse the reasons for utilizing different strategies over time
A Combined Surface Chemistry / Microwell Approach for Trapping Single Cells on Electrochemical Microelectrodes for Measurement of Quantal Exocytosis
Development and use of the Lives Saved Tool (LiST): a model to estimate the impact of scaling up proven interventions on maternal, neonatal and child mortality
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Climate responses to anthropogenic emissions of short-lived climate pollutants
Policies to control air quality focus on mitigating emissions of aerosols and their precursors, and other short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). On a local scale, these policies will have beneficial impacts on health and crop yields, by reducing particulate matter (PM) and surface ozone concentrations; however, the climate impacts of reducing emissions of SLCPs are less straightforward to predict. In this paper we consider a set of idealised, extreme mitigation strategies, in which the total anthropogenic emissions of individual SLCP emissions species are removed. This provides an upper bound on the potential climate impacts of such air quality strategies.
We focus on evaluating the climate responses to changes in anthropogenic emissions of aerosol precursor species: black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). We perform climate integrations with four fully coupled atmosphere-ocean global climate models (AOGCMs), and examine the effects on global and regional climate of removing the total land-based anthropogenic emissions of each of the three aerosol precursor species.
We find that the SO2 emissions reductions lead to the strongest response, with all three models showing an increase in surface temperature focussed in the northern hemisphere high latitudes, and a corresponding increase in global mean precipitation and run-off. Changes in precipitation and run-off patterns are driven mostly by a northward shift in the ITCZ, consistent with the hemispherically asymmetric warming pattern driven by the emissions changes. The BC and OC emissions reductions give a much weaker forcing signal, and there is some disagreement between models in the sign of the climate responses to these perturbations. These differences between models are due largely to natural variability in sea-ice extent, circulation patterns and cloud changes. This large natural variability component to the signal when the ocean circulation and sea-ice are free-running means that the BC and OC mitigation measures do not necessarily lead to a discernible climate response
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