6,910 research outputs found
Multicenter multidisciplinary training program for chronic low back pain: French experience of the Renodos back pain network (Réseau Nord-Pas-de-Calais du DOS)
AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the short- and long-term effectiveness of the multidisciplinary training program (MTP). To show the benefits which the network organization brings to the treatment of chronic low back pain (CLPB).MethodsThe member centres of the Renodos back pain network included 748 subjects in the MTP. The centres used a common evaluation protocol including pain and quality of life visual analogue scales (VAS), fingertip-to-floor distance (FFD), muscle isometric endurance tests, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ), the Dallas Pain Questionnaire (DPQ) and the Hospital Anxiety Depression (HAD) scale. Measurements were carried out before (T0) and immediately after (T1) the intervention, and at the 3-, 6-, 12-month (T3, T6, T12) follow-up visits.ResultsStatistically discernible improvement occurred for men and women on every outcome measure from before to after the MTP (T0–T1, p<0.0001). This improvement obtained at T1 was maintained for most of the outcome measures throughout the 12-month follow-up. However, the pain intensity and isometric muscle endurance times showed significant negative evolution. Significant differences between genders were found for the trunk flexibility measurement (FFD), the isometric endurance time of the quadratus lumborum muscle, the RDQ and the HAD depression. There was no time–gender interaction.ConclusionThe MTP was effective in reducing back pain intensity, functional disability, symptoms of anxiety and depression and in improving quality of life, flexibility and isometric muscle endurance time. It was possible to propose the MTP to both men and women. A network organization effectively contributes to the harmonization of evaluation methods and brings coherence to the treatment of CLBP patients
Limits on Lorentz Violation from the Highest Energy Cosmic Rays
We place several new limits on Lorentz violating effects, which can modify
particles' dispersion relations, by considering the highest energy cosmic rays
observed. Since these are hadrons, this involves considering the partonic
content of such cosmic rays. We get a number of bounds on differences in
maximum propagation speeds, which are typically bounded at the 10^{-21} level,
and on momentum dependent dispersion corrections of the form v = 1 +-
p^2/Lambda^2, which typically bound Lambda > 10^{21} GeV, well above the Planck
scale. For (CPT violating) dispersion correction of the form v = 1 + p/Lambda,
the bounds are up to 15 orders of magnitude beyond the Planck scale.Comment: 24 pages, no figures. Added references, very slight changes. Version
published in Physical Review
Group classification of (1+1)-Dimensional Schr\"odinger Equations with Potentials and Power Nonlinearities
We perform the complete group classification in the class of nonlinear
Schr\"odinger equations of the form
where is an arbitrary
complex-valued potential depending on and is a real non-zero
constant. We construct all the possible inequivalent potentials for which these
equations have non-trivial Lie symmetries using a combination of algebraic and
compatibility methods. The proposed approach can be applied to solving group
classification problems for a number of important classes of differential
equations arising in mathematical physics.Comment: 10 page
The direct evaluation of attosecond chirp from a streaking measurement
We derive an analytical expression, from classical electron trajectories in a
laser field, that relates the breadth of a streaked photoelectron spectrum to
the group-delay dispersion of an isolated attosecond pulse. Based on this
analytical expression, we introduce a simple, efficient and robust procedure to
instantly extract the attosecond pulse's chirp from the streaking measurement.Comment: 4 figure
Proposal of a CLT reinforcement of old timber floors
Despite the fact that, from the mechanical point of view, there is no ageing issues of timber elements when they are properly used, many old timber structures require important interventions because of changes in uses (which modifies the regulating rules for example), of material decay (misuse of timber) or possibly of a faulty design or construction. In particular, timber floors in old structures often present large deflections and most the time had been designed for a maximum load much lower than the one prescribed by contemporary rules. After an introduction about timber floors and a short review about the reinforcement technics that exist, the present paper presents a new proposal for their reinforcement. The solution developed in the present paper uses a Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panel screwed over the existing floor, keeping a small gap between the panel and the existing joists. In this way, the new “composite” floor presents higher stiffness and the gap is used for horizontal line runs. For the design of such a “composite floor”, modified Johanssen’s equations (including the gap between the CLT panel and the joists) are proposed and their application on a case study is presented.- (undefined
Faking like a woman? Towards an interpretative theorization of sexual pleasure.
This article explores the possibility of developing a feminist approach to gendered and sexual embodiment which is rooted in the pragmatist/interactionist tradition derived from G.H. Mead, but which in turn develops this perspective by inflecting it through more recent feminist thinking. In so doing we seek to rebalance some of the rather abstract work on gender and embodiment by focusing on an instance of 'heterosexual' everyday/night life - the production of the female orgasm. Through engaging with feminist and interactionist work, we develop an approach to embodied sexual pleasure that emphasizes the sociality of sexual practices and of reflexive sexual selves. We argue that sexual practices and experiences must be understood in social context, taking account of the situatedness of sex as well as wider socio-cultural processes the production of sexual desire and sexual pleasure (or their non-production) always entails interpretive, interactional processes
Dynamics of Large-Scale Plastic Deformation and the Necking Instability in Amorphous Solids
We use the shear transformation zone (STZ) theory of dynamic plasticity to
study the necking instability in a two-dimensional strip of amorphous solid.
Our Eulerian description of large-scale deformation allows us to follow the
instability far into the nonlinear regime. We find a strong rate dependence;
the higher the applied strain rate, the further the strip extends before the
onset of instability. The material hardens outside the necking region, but the
description of plastic flow within the neck is distinctly different from that
of conventional time-independent theories of plasticity.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures (eps), revtex4, added references, changed and
added content, resubmitted to PR
Estimating the Number of Solutions of Cardinality Constraints through range and roots Decompositions
International audienceThis paper introduces a systematic approach for estimating the number of solutions of cardinality constraints. A main difficulty of solutions counting on a specific constraint lies in the fact that it is, in general, at least as hard as developing the constraint and its propaga-tors, as it has been shown on alldifferent and gcc constraints. This paper introduces a probabilistic model to systematically estimate the number of solutions on a large family of cardinality constraints including alldifferent, nvalue, atmost, etc. Our approach is based on their decomposition into range and roots, and exhibits a general pattern to derive such estimates based on the edge density of the associated variable-value graph. Our theoretical result is finally implemented within the maxSD search heuristic, that aims at exploring first the area where there are likely more solutions
Helmholtz bright and boundary solitons
We report, for the first time, exact analytical boundary solitons of a generalized cubic-quintic Non-Linear Helmholtz (NLH) equation. These solutions have a linked-plateau topology that is distinct from conventional dark soliton solutions; their amplitude and intensity distributions are spatially delocalized and connect regions of finite and zero wave-field disturbances (suggesting also the classification as 'edge solitons'). Extensive numerical simulations compare the stability properties of recently-reported Helmholtz bright solitons, for this type of polynomial non-linearity, to those of the new boundary solitons. The latter are found to possess a remarkable stability characteristic, exhibiting robustness against perturbations that would otherwise lead to the destabilizing of their bright-soliton counterpart
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