2,809 research outputs found
Spatial incoherence of solar granulation: a global analysis using BiSON 2B data
A poor understanding of the impact of convective turbulence in the outer
layers of the Sun and Sun-like stars challenges the advance towards an improved
understanding of their internal structure and dynamics. Assessing and
calibrating these effects is therefore of great importance. Here we study the
spatial coherence of granulation noise and oscillation modes in the Sun, with
the aim of exploiting any incoherence to beat-down observed granulation noise,
hence improving the detection of low-frequency p-modes. Using data from the
BiSON 2B instrument, we assess the coherence between different atmospheric
heights and between different surface regions. We find that granulation noise
from the different atmospheric heights probed is largely incoherent; frequency
regions dominated by oscillations are almost fully coherent. We find a
randomised phase difference for the granulation noise, and a near zero
difference for the evanescent oscillations. A reduction of the incoherent
granulation noise is shown by application of the cross-spectrum.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, MNRAS in pres
Poetry for pleasure : promoting poetry to children in public libraries
This article reports an investigation of the attitudes and opinions of
childrenâs librarians towards poetry, and towards its promotion in the public
library. It also reports some attitudes towards literature promotion to young
people in general. A series of structured interviews with library professionals
currently working in the public sector strongly indicate that
childrenâs librarians are themselves enthusiastic concerning poetry, and are
firmly convinced both of the benefits incurred by children encouraged to
read, write and listen to poems from a very early age, and of childrenâs own
enjoyment of this genre. Due to its brevity and memorability, poetry is
regarded by the interviewees as the most accessible literary form for poor or
reluctant readers, despite its wider image as a neglected and âdifficultâ genre
for children and young people
Disentangling the roles of late Miocene palaeogeography and vegetation:Implications for climate sensitivity
Detector bandwidth and polarisation switching rates:spectrophotometric observations of the Sun by the Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network (BiSON)
A case-control study of risk factors for wound infection in a colorectal unit
INTRODUCTION
Postoperative wound infections have been responsible for increasing morbidity and are associated with an increased use of hospital resources. Previous studies have identified several risk factors. However, most studies are outdated, and few relate to the era of enhanced recovery and laparoscopic surgery. This study investigated the association between patient and operative factors and the development of postoperative wound infections in colorectal surgery.
METHODS
Patients with documented wound infections or dehiscences were identified from a database of elective and emergency colorectal surgery. Patients with wound infections were matched by operation type to a control group of colorectal patients. Differences in patient and operative factors between case and control group were analysed using conditional logistic regression.
RESULTS
A total of 56 patients with wound infection were identified from 647 operations (8.6%). Fifty-seven per cent were emergency operations and eighty-eight per cent were performed as open surgery or as laparoscopic surgery converted to open. Forty per cent of patients had high ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) grades (3 or 4). Multivariate logistical regression showed that obese patients and those having open surgery had the highest risk of infections. The median postoperative hospital stay for patients with wound infections was twice as long as for those patients without wound infections.
CONCLUSIONS
Open surgery and obesity are independent risk factor for wound infections. An increase in laparoscopically performed operations and new strategies for managing wounds in obese patients may help to reduce the rate of wound infection
Probiotics: current landscape and future horizons
In recent years there has been a rapid rise in interest for the application of probiotic supplements to act as mediators in health and disease. This appeal is predominantly due to ever-increasing evidence of the
interaction of the microbiota and pathophysiological processes of disease within the human host. This narrative review considers the current landscape of the probiotic industry and its research, and discusses current pitfalls in the lack of translation from laboratory science to clinical application. Future considerations into how industry and academia must adapt probiotic research to maximize success are suggested, including more targeted application of probiotic strains dependent on individual capabilities as well as application of multiple advanced analytical technologies to further understand and accelerate microbiome science. Lay abstract: The global market for probiotic supplements is continually expanding. Despite the public perception of benefits provided by probiotics, the evidence to conclusively link probiotic strains to improved characteristics of health or disease is lacking. This is owing, in part, to the lack of large-scale research trials, but also to the insufficient understanding of the interactions occurring within the human system following supplementation. More in-depth research into individual probiotic strains, combined with the application of multiple advanced measurement techniques will provide a future direction for
probiotic research and, in turn, aim to provide useful data to translate into routine healthcare practice
Dental Pulp Stem Cell Heterogeneity: Finding Superior Quality âNeedlesâ in a Dental Pulpal âHaystackâ for Regenerative Medicine-Based Applications
Human dental pulp stem/stromal cells (hDPSCs) derived from the permanent secondary dentition are recognised to possess certain advantageous traits, which support their potential use as a viable source of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) for regenerative medicine-based applications. However, the well-established heterogeneous nature of hDPSC subpopulations, coupled with their limited numbers within dental pulp tissues, has impeded our understanding of hDPSC biology and the translation of sufficient quantities of these cells from laboratory research, through successful therapy development and clinical applications. This article reviews our current understanding of hDPSC biology and the evidence underpinning the molecular basis of their heterogeneity, which may be exploited to distinguish individual subpopulations with specific or superior characteristics for regenerative medicine applications. Pertinent unanswered questions which still remain, regarding the developmental origins, hierarchical organisation, and stem cell niche locations of hDPSC subpopulations and their roles in hDPSC heterogeneity and functions, will further be explored. Ultimately, a greater understanding of how key features, such as specific cell surface, senescence and other relevant genes, and protein and metabolic markers, delineate between hDPSC subpopulations with contrasting stemness, proliferative, multipotency, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and other relevant properties is required. Such knowledge advancements will undoubtedly lead to the development of novel screening, isolation, and purification strategies, permitting the routine and effective identification, enrichment, and expansion of more desirable hDPSC subpopulations for regenerative medicine-based applications. Furthermore, such innovative measures could lead to improved cell expansion, manufacture, and banking procedures, thereby supporting the translational development of hDPSC-based therapies in the future
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