1,554 research outputs found
Hypomagnesaemia in cystic fibrosis patients referred for lung transplant assessment
AbstractBackgroundHypomagnesaemia in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is underrecognized although the true incidence is unknown. Many patients are asymptomatic, although severe deficiency may be associated with muscle weakness, cramps and tetany. Hypomagnesaemia may be a risk factor for post-transplant complications including convulsions, which may be exacerbated by the use of calcineurin inhibitors. The aims of the present study were to describe serum magnesium levels and to investigate the relationship between magnesium levels and age, and renal function measurements in patients with CF referred to a transplant centre for lung transplant assessment.MethodsWe reviewed the data of all 106 CF patients referred for transplant assessment from January 1995 to December 2003. Demographic and biochemical data were recorded and the explanatory variables were subjected to univariate analysis and linear regression analysis.ResultsMean serum magnesium level was 0.75 mmol/L (range 0.46–1.03, normal range 0.74–1.1). 57% of patients had hypomagnesaemia. Serum magnesium levels were not associated with age, serum creatinine or GFR.ConclusionsHypomagnesaemia is a common finding in patients with CF referred for lung transplant assessment. Serum magnesium levels should be monitored in all CF patients being referred for lung transplant irrespective of the results of other renal function tests
The shape of the CMB lensing bispectrum
Lensing of the CMB generates a significant bispectrum, which should be
detected by the Planck satellite at the 5-sigma level and is potentially a
non-negligible source of bias for f_NL estimators of local non-Gaussianity. We
extend current understanding of the lensing bispectrum in several directions:
(1) we perform a non-perturbative calculation of the lensing bispectrum which
is ~10% more accurate than previous, first-order calculations; (2) we
demonstrate how to incorporate the signal variance of the lensing bispectrum
into estimates of its amplitude, providing a good analytical explanation for
previous Monte-Carlo results; and (3) we discover the existence of a
significant lensing bispectrum in polarization, due to a previously-unnoticed
correlation between the lensing potential and E-polarization as large as 30% at
low multipoles. We use this improved understanding of the lensing bispectra to
re-evaluate Fisher-matrix predictions, both for Planck and cosmic variance
limited data. We confirm that the non-negligible lensing-induced bias for
estimation of local non-Gaussianity should be robustly treatable, and will only
inflate f_NL error bars by a few percent over predictions where lensing effects
are completely ignored (but note that lensing must still be accounted for to
obtain unbiased constraints). We also show that the detection significance for
the lensing bispectrum itself is ultimately limited to 9 sigma by cosmic
variance. The tools that we develop for non-perturbative calculation of the
lensing bispectrum are directly relevant to other calculations, and we give an
explicit construction of a simple non-perturbative quadratic estimator for the
lensing potential and relate its cross-correlation power spectrum to the
bispectrum. Our numerical codes are publicly available as part of CAMB and
LensPix.Comment: 32 pages, 10 figures; minor changes to match JCAP-accepted version.
CMB lensing and primordial local bispectrum codes available as part of CAMB
(http://camb.info/
Goodness-of-Fit Tests to study the Gaussianity of the MAXIMA data
Goodness-of-Fit tests, including Smooth ones, are introduced and applied to
detect non-Gaussianity in Cosmic Microwave Background simulations. We study the
power of three different tests: the Shapiro-Francia test (1972), the
uncategorised smooth test developed by Rayner and Best(1990) and the Neyman's
Smooth Goodness-of-fit test for composite hypotheses (Thomas and Pierce 1979).
The Smooth Goodness-of-Fit tests are designed to be sensitive to the presence
of ``smooth'' deviations from a given distribution. We study the power of these
tests based on the discrimination between Gaussian and non-Gaussian
simulations. Non-Gaussian cases are simulated using the Edgeworth expansion and
assuming pixel-to-pixel independence. Results show these tests behave similarly
and are more powerful than tests directly based on cumulants of order 3, 4, 5
and 6. We have applied these tests to the released MAXIMA data. The applied
tests are built to be powerful against detecting deviations from univariate
Gaussianity. The Cholesky matrix corresponding to signal (based on an assumed
cosmological model) plus noise is used to decorrelate the observations previous
to the analysis. Results indicate that the MAXIMA data are compatible with
Gaussianity.Comment: MNRAS, in pres
Effectiveness of a participatory physical and psychosocial intervention to balance the demands and resources of industrial workers: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a participatory physical and psychosocial
workplace intervention (known as PIPPI) on work ability and recovery among industrial workers.
Methods Eligible workers were cluster-randomized into intervention (N=193) and control (N=222) groups.
Intervention group members participated in three workshops where they mapped positive and negative aspects
of their physical and psychosocial work environment and developed action plans addressing the highlighted
issues, which were subsequently implemented by the participants. Questionnaire-based data on work ability and
recovery were collected at baseline and 8-, 10- and 12-month follow-up. Data on productivity, well-being, mental
health, and physical demands and resources were collected at baseline and 12-month follow-up.
Results The intervention was delivered and received as planned (100% planned workshops conducted, 69%
[standard deviation (SD) 7%] participation in workshops) and with a response rate of 76% (SD 8%) to the questionnaires.
No significant between-group improvements for any of the outcomes were found in intention-to-treat
multi-level mixed models. On the contrary, tendencies were observed for poorer recovery and reduced work
ability in the intervention compared to control group.
Conclusion The intervention did not improve the outcomes. This result can have several explanations, such as
a regression-toward-the-mean effect or that the intervention might have put an additional burden on the workers
already facing high work demands. In addition, there may have been an insufficient match between the intervention
components implemented and the predetermined outcomes, and implementation may have been unsuccessful.
These potential explanations need to be investigated using process evaluation data
A numerical reinvestigation of the Aoki phase with N_f=2 Wilson fermions at zero temperature
We report on a numerical reinvestigation of the Aoki phase in lattice QCD
with two flavors of Wilson fermions where the parity-flavor symmetry is
spontaneously broken. For this purpose an explicitly symmetry-breaking source
term was added to the fermion action.
The order parameter was computed with
the Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm at several values of on
lattices of sizes to and extrapolated to . The existence of a
parity-flavor breaking phase can be confirmed at and 4.3, while we
do not find parity-flavor breaking at and 5.0.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, Revised version as to be published in Phys.Rev.
A Diagnostic Study on Livestock Production System in Eastern Region of India
A study was conducted in seven East Indian states, viz. Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Assam and eastern UP, to understand the livestock production and management systems for making strategies for the improving livestock production scenario in the region. The data were collected from two districts from each state and from each district twenty-five (25) farmers were selected. Information was collected farmer‘s socio-economic status like, family size, education, land holding, animal status (types of animals, strength, production), feeding system (feeds and fodder availability, sources of feed, feeding methods), health status (types of diseases, symptoms and vaccination mode), breeding methods, assistance needs (subsidy, loan, animals, training) and satisfaction with animal and production aspects through pretested survey instrument specially developed for the purpose. It was found that family size varied from 5.31 (West Bengal) to 9.48 (Eastern UP) and most head of families were educated having more than 0.5ha agriculture land. Majority (70.86%) of the farmers were not able to spare agriculture land for fodder production. A large number of farmers in Assam, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand had non-descript (ND) cows. However, majority of farmers surveyed in Bihar and eastern UP had crossbred (CB) cow. Average milk production (kg/d), lactation length (m) and dry period (m) amongst animals of eastern region for ND cows 2.48, 7.71, and 6.66, for CB cows 7.20, 9.08, and 3.85 and for buffaloes 5.54, 8.56, and 6.93, respectively. The farmers followed their own feeding practices and offered self-produced feeds. Majority of the farmers of the region reported Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) as a major concern and were not satisfied with their animals and production. On the basis of this study it can be concluded that livestock farmers of eastern region of India are in great need of improved breeds, they also require capacity building and training on balance feeding and general management practices for better and sustainable animal production
A Diagnostic Study on Livestock Production System in Eastern Region of India
A study was conducted in seven East Indian states, viz. Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Assam and eastern UP, to understand the livestock production and management systems for making strategies for the improving livestock production scenario in the region. The data were collected from two districts from each state and from each district twenty-five (25) farmers were selected. Information was collected farmer‘s socio-economic status like, family size, education, land holding, animal status (types of animals, strength, production), feeding system (feeds and fodder availability, sources of feed, feeding methods), health status (types of diseases, symptoms and vaccination mode), breeding methods, assistance needs (subsidy, loan, animals, training) and satisfaction with animal and production aspects through pretested survey instrument specially developed for the purpose. It was found that family size varied from 5.31 (West Bengal) to 9.48 (Eastern UP) and most head of families were educated having more than 0.5ha agriculture land. Majority (70.86%) of the farmers were not able to spare agriculture land for fodder production. A large number of farmers in Assam, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand had non-descript (ND) cows. However, majority of farmers surveyed in Bihar and eastern UP had crossbred (CB) cow. Average milk production (kg/d), lactation length (m) and dry period (m) amongst animals of eastern region for ND cows 2.48, 7.71, and 6.66, for CB cows 7.20, 9.08, and 3.85 and for buffaloes 5.54, 8.56, and 6.93, respectively. The farmers followed their own feeding practices and offered self-produced feeds. Majority of the farmers of the region reported Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) as a major concern and were not satisfied with their animals and production. On the basis of this study it can be concluded that livestock farmers of eastern region of India are in great need of improved breeds, they also require capacity building and training on balance feeding and general management practices for better and sustainable animal production
Atom capture by nanotube and scaling anomaly
The existence of bound state of the polarizable neutral atom in the inverse
square potential created by the electric field of single walled charged carbon
nanotube (SWNT) is shown to be theoretically possible. The consideration of
inequivalent boundary conditions due to self-adjoint extensions lead to this
nontrivial bound state solution. It is also shown that the scaling anomaly is
responsible for the existence of bound state. Binding of the polarizable atoms
in the coupling constant interval \eta^2\in[0,1) may be responsible for the
smearing of the edge of steps in quantized conductance, which has not been
considered so far in literature.Comment: Accepted in Int.J.Theor.Phy
Parallel tempering in full QCD with Wilson fermions
We study the performance of QCD simulations with dynamical Wilson fermions by
combining the Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm with parallel tempering on
and lattices. In order to compare tempered with standard simulations,
covariance matrices between sub-ensembles have to be formulated and evaluated
using the general properties of autocorrelations of the parallel tempering
algorithm. We find that rendering the hopping parameter dynamical does
not lead to an essential improvement. We point out possible reasons for this
observation and discuss more suitable ways of applying parallel tempering to
QCD.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figure
A Comparison of Solar Cycle Variations in the Equatorial Rotation Rates of the Sun's Subsurface, Surface, Corona, and Sunspot Groups
Using the Solar Optical Observing Network (SOON) sunspot-group data for the
period 1985-2010, the variations in the annual mean equatorial-rotation rates
of the sunspot groups are determined and compared with the known variations in
the solar equatorial-rotation rates determined from the following data: i) the
plasma rotation rates at 0.94Rsun, 0.95Rsun,...,1.0Rsun measured by Global
Oscillation Network Group (GONG) during the period 1995-2010, ii) the data on
the soft X-ray corona determined from Yohkoh/SXT full disk images for the years
1992-2001, iii) the data on small bright coronal structures (SBCS) which were
traced in Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)/EIT images during the
period 1998-2006, and iv) the Mount Wilson Doppler-velocity measurements during
the period 1986-2007. A large portion (up to approximate 30 deg latitude) of
the mean differential-rotation profile of the sunspot groups lies between those
of the internal differential-rotation rates at 0.94Rsun and 0.98Rsun.The
variation in the yearly mean equatorial-rotation rate of the sunspot groups
seems to be lagging that of the equatorial-rotation rate determined from the
GONG measurements by one to two years.The amplitude of the latter is very
small.The solar-cycle variation in the equatorial-rotation rate of the solar
corona closely matches that determined from the sunspot-group data.The
variation in the equatorial-rotation rate determined from the Mount Wilson
Doppler-velocity data closely resembles the corresponding variation in the
equatorial-rotation rate determined from the sunspot-group data that included
the values of the abnormal angular motions (> 3 deg per day) of the sunspot
groups. Implications of these results are pointed out.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figures, accepted by Solar Physic
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