137 research outputs found
Long-Term Outcomes of Everolimus Therapy in De Novo Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
BACKGROUND: Risk of nephrotoxicity in liver transplant patients on calcineurin inhibitors (CnIs) is a concern. Several controlled trials reported benefit of everolimus (EVR) in minimizing this risk when combined with a reduced CnI dose. BACKGROUND: To systematically review the efficacy and safety of EVR, alone or with reduced CnI dose, as compared to CnI alone post-liver transplantation. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials comparing EVR- and CnI-based regimens post-liver transplantation. Assessment of studies and data extraction were undertaken independently. RESULTS: Eight studies were selected, describing 769 patients. Cockcroft-Gault GFR was higher at one (P = .05), 3, and 5 years (P = .030) in patients on EVR compared to those receiving CnI therapy. The composite endpoint of efficacy failure was similar between the 2 arms after 1, 3, and 5 years of study. More patients discontinued EVR due to adverse effects in 1 year; however, no difference was noted after 3 or 5 years. A higher rates of proteinuria, peripheral edema, and incisional hernia occurred in patients on EVR. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis confirms noninferiority of EVR and reduced CnI combination. Combination regimen resulted in better renal function compared to standard CnI therapy
Indoor environment propagation review
A survey of indoor propagation characteristics is presented, including different models for path loss, shadowing and fast fading mechanisms, different channel parameters including signal strength, power delay, coherence bandwidth, Doppler spread and angle of arrival. The concepts of MIMO channels are also covered. The study also explores many types of deterministic channel modelling, such as Finite Difference Time Domain, Finite Integration Method, Ray tracing and the Dominant path model. Electromagnetic properties of building materials, including frequency dependence, are also investigated and several models for propagation through buildings are reviewed
A comparison between vector algorithm and CRSS algorithm for indoor localization
yesIn this paper a comparison between two indoor localization algorithms using received signal strength is utilized the vector algorithm and the Comparative Received Signal Strength algorithm. The comparison considered the effect of the radio map resolution, the number of access points, and the operating frequency on the accuracy of the localization process. The experiments were carried out using ray tracing software, measured values and MATLAB
Fitting the Gamma-Ray Spectrum from Dark Matter with DMFIT: GLAST and the Galactic Center Region
We study the potential of GLAST to unveil particle dark matter properties
with gamma-ray observations of the Galactic center region. We present full
GLAST simulations including all gamma-ray sources known to date in a region of
4 degrees around the Galactic center, in addition to the diffuse gamma-ray
background and to the dark matter signal. We introduce DMFIT, a tool that
allows one to fit gamma-ray emission from pair-annihilation of generic particle
dark matter models and to extract information on the mass, normalization and
annihilation branching ratios into Standard Model final states. We assess the
impact and systematic effects of background modeling and theoretical priors on
the reconstruction of dark matter particle properties. Our detailed simulations
demonstrate that for some well motivated supersymmetric dark matter setups with
one year of GLAST data it will be possible not only to significantly detect a
dark matter signal over background, but also to estimate the dark matter mass
and its dominant pair-annihilation mode.Comment: 37 pages, 16 figures, submitted to JCA
Direct versus indirect detection in mSUGRA with self-consistent halo models
We perform a detailed analysis of the detection prospects of neutralino dark
matter in the mSUGRA framework. We focus on models with a thermal relic
density, estimated with high accuracy using the DarkSUSY package, in the range
favored by current precision cosmological measurements. Direct and indirect
detection rates are computed implementing two models for the dark matter halo,
tracing opposite regimes for the phase of baryon infall, with fully consistent
density profiles and velocity distribution functions. This has allowed, for the
first time, a fully consistent comparison between direct and indirect detection
prospects. We discuss all relevant regimes in the mSUGRA parameter space,
underlining relevant effects, and providing the basis for extending the
discussion to alternative frameworks. In general, we find that direct detection
and searches for antideuterons in the cosmic rays seems to be the most
promising ways to search for neutralinos in these scenarios.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figure
Lower limit on the neutralino mass in the general MSSM
We discuss constraints on SUSY models with non-unified gaugino masses and R_P
conservation. We derive a lower bound on the neutralino mass combining the
direct limits from LEP, the indirect limits from gmuon, bsgamma, Bsmumu and the
relic density constraint from WMAP. The lightest neutralino (mneutralino=6GeV)
is found in models with a light pseudoscalar with MA<200GeV and a large value
for . Models with heavy pseudoscalars lead to mneutralino>18(29)GeV
for . We show that even a very conservative bound from the
muon anomalous magnetic moment can increase the lower bound on the neutralino
mass in models with mu<0 and/or large values of . We then examine
the potential of the Tevatron and the direct detection experiments to probe the
SUSY models with the lightest neutralinos allowed in the context of light
pseudoscalars with high . We also examine the potential of an e+e-
collider of 500GeV to produce SUSY particles in all models with neutralinos
lighter than the W. In contrast to the mSUGRA models, observation of at least
one sparticle is not always guaranteed.Comment: 37 pages, LateX, 16 figures, paper with higher resolution figures
available at
http://wwwlapp.in2p3.fr/~boudjema/papers/bound-lsp/bound-lsp.htm
First measurement of nuclear recoil head-tail sense in a fiducialised WIMP dark matter detector
Recent computational results suggest that directional dark matter detectors have potential to probe for WIMP dark matter particles below the neutrino floor. The DRIFT-IId detector used in this work is a leading directional WIMP search time projection chamber detector. We report the first measurements of the detection of the directional nuclear recoils in a fully fiducialised low-pressure time projection chamber. In this new operational mode, the distance between each event vertex and the readout plane is determined by the measurement of minority carriers produced by adding a small amount of oxygen to the nominal CS + CF target gas mixture. The CS + CF + O mixture has been shown to enable background-free operation at current sensitivities. Sulfur, fluorine, and carbon recoils were generated using neutrons emitted from a Cf source positioned at different locations around the detector. Measurement of the relative energy loss along the recoil tracks allowed the track vector sense, or the so-called head-tail asymmetry parameter, to be deduced. Results show that the previously reported observation of head-tail sensitivity in pure CS is well retained after the addition of oxygen to the gas mixture
Impact of Protracted War Crisis on Dental Students: A Comparative Multicountry Cross-sectional Study
BACKGROUND: The impact of conflict and war crisis on dental students is poorly understood. Given the prolonged conflicts and political instability in the Arabic-speaking countries, it is crucial to investigate the effect of these conditions on dental students. This study aimed to assess the impact of protracted war on dental students by comparing the personal, university, and wider context challenges they face across war-affected and unaffected countries. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted including a convenience sample of dental students from 13 universities in 12 Arabic-speaking countries. Respondents were those at entry and exit points of their undergraduate dental training. A self-administered paper questionnaire collected anonymized data on sociodemographics, and personal, university, and wider context challenges that students were facing. Multivariable Poisson regression analyses were carried out. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 64.8%. The mean age was 21.2 (standard deviation = 2.1) years, with 68% of participants being female. After adjusting for age and sex, dental students in Arabic-speaking countries affected by protracted war crisis were significantly more likely to report wider context challenges compared to their counterparts in unaffected countries (n = 2448; beta = 1.12; 95% confidence interval: 1.10-1.13; P < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Dental students in Arabic-speaking countries affected by protracted war crisis were more likely to suffer from wider context challenges such as difficulties in attendance due to the deterioration of security and lack of flexibility of teaching time to accommodate the different circumstances induced by the war crisis. Supporting dental students in areas affected by protracted war crises is needed and may include developing online dental education programs
Can annihilating Dark Matter be lighter than a few GeVs?
We estimate the gamma ray fluxes from the residual annihilations of Dark
Matter particles having a mass mdm \in [MeV, O(GeV)] and compare them to
observations. We find that particles lighter than O(100 MeV) are excluded
unless their cross section is S-wave suppressed.Comment: 4 pages. No figure. Values corrected (last column Table.1). Text
clarified. Conclusions unchange
Strong Association of 677 C>T Substitution in the MTHFR Gene with Male Infertility - A Study on an Indian Population and a Meta-Analysis
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an important enzyme of folate and methionine metabolism, making it crucial for DNA synthesis and methylation. The objective of this study was to analyze MTHFR gene 677C>T polymorphism in infertile male individuals from North India, followed by a meta-analysis on our data and published studies.We undertook genotyping on a total of 837 individuals including well characterized infertile (N = 522) and confirmed fertile (N = 315) individuals. The SNP was typed by direct DNA sequencing. Chi square test was done for statistical analysis. Published studies were searched using appropriate keywords. Source of data collection for meta-analysis included 'Pubmed', 'Ovid' and 'Google Scholar'. Those studies analyzing 677C>T polymorphism in male infertility and presenting all relevant data were included in meta-analysis. The genotype data for infertile subjects and fertile controls was extracted from each study. Chi square test was done to obtain odds ratio (OR) and p-value. Meta-analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-analysis software (Version 2). The frequency of mutant (T) allele (p = 0.0025) and genotypes (CT+TT) (p = 0.0187) was significantly higher in infertile individuals in comparison to fertile controls in our case-control study. The overall summary estimate (OR) for allele and genotype meta-analysis were 1.304 (p = 0.000), 1.310 (p = 0.000), respectively, establishing significant association of 677C>T polymorphism with male infertility.677C>T substitution associated strongly with male infertility in Indian population. Allele and genotype meta-analysis also supported its strong correlation with male infertility, thus establishing it as a risk factor
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