1,915 research outputs found
Real-time pair-feeding of animals
Automatic pair-feeding system was developed which immediately dispenses same amount of food to control animal as has been consumed by experimental animal that has free access to food. System consists of: master feeding system; slave feeding station; and control mechanism. Technique performs real time pair-feeding without attendant time lag
Automatic real-time pair-feeding system for animals
A pair feeding method and apparatus are provided for experimental animals wherein the amount of food consumed is immediately delivered to a normal or control animal so that there is a qualitative, quantitative and chronological correctness in the pair feeding of the two animals. This feeding mechanism delivers precisely measured amounts of food to a feeder. Circuitry is provided between master and slave feeders so that there is virtually no chance of a malfunction of the feeding apparatus, causing erratic results. Recording equipment is also provided so that an hourly record is kept of food delivery
Positive mass theorem for the Paneitz-Branson operator
We prove that under suitable assumptions, the constant term in the Green
function of the Paneitz-Branson operator on a compact Riemannian manifold
is positive unless is conformally diffeomophic to the standard
sphere. The proof is inspired by the positive mass theorem on spin manifolds by
Ammann-Humbert.Comment: 7 page
Medical student use of communication elements and association with patient satisfaction: a prospective observational pilot study
BACKGROUND:
Effective communication with patients impacts clinical outcome and patient satisfaction. We measure the rate at which medical students use six targeted communication elements with patients and association of element use with patient satisfaction.
METHODS:
Participants included fourth year medical students enrolled in an emergency medicine clerkship. A trained observer measured use of six communication elements: acknowledging the patient by name, introducing themselves by name, identifying their role, explaining the care plan, explaining that multiple providers would see the patient, and providing an estimated duration of time in the emergency department. The observer then conducted a survey of patient satisfaction with the medical student encounter.
RESULTS:
A total of 246 encounters were documented among forty medical student participants. For the six communication elements evaluated, in 61% of encounters medical students acknowledged the patient, in 91% they introduced themselves, in 58 % they identified their role as a student, in 64% they explained the care plan, in 80% they explained that another provider would see the patient, and in only 6% they provided an estimated duration of care. Only 1 encounter (0.4%) contained all six elements. Patients' likelihood to refer a loved one to that ED was increased when students acknowledged the patient and described that other providers would be involved in patient care (P = 0.016 and 0.015 respectively, Chi Square). Likewise, patients' likelihood to return to the ED was increased when students described their role in patient care (P = 0.035, Chi Square).
CONCLUSIONS:
This pilot study demonstrates that medical students infrequently use all targeted communication elements. When they did use certain elements, patient satisfaction increased. These data imply potential benefit to additional training for students in patient communication
Analysis of Localization Phenomena in Weakly Interacting Disordered Lattice Gases
Disorder plays a crucial role in many systems particularly in solid state
physics. However, the disorder in a particular system can usually not be chosen
or controlled. We show that the unique control available for ultracold atomic
gases may be used for the production and observation of disordered quantum
degenerate gases. A detailed analysis of localization effects for two possible
realizations of a disordered potential is presented. In a theoretical analysis
clear localization effects are observed when a superlattice is used to provide
a quasiperiodic disorder. The effects of localization are analyzed by
investigating the superfluid fraction and the localization length within the
system. The theoretical analysis in this paper paves a clear path for the
future observation of Anderson-like localization in disordered quantum gases.Comment: 9 pages, 13 figure
Outcomes of listing for lung and heart–lung transplantation in pulmonary hypertension: comparative experience in France and the UK
\ua9 The authors 2024.Background Lung or heart–lung transplantation (LT/HLT) for severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) as the primary disease indication carries a high risk of waiting list mortality and post-transplant complications. France and the UK both have coordinated PH patient services but with different referral pathways for accessing LT services. Methods We conducted a comparative analysis of adult PH patients listed for LT/HLT in the UK and France. Results We included 211 PH patients in France (2006–2018) and 170 in the UK (2010–2019). Cumulative incidence of transplant, delisting and waiting list death within 3 years were 81%, 4% and 11% in France versus 58%, 10% and 15% in the UK (p<0.001 for transplant and delisting; p=0.1 for death). Median nonpriority waiting time was 45 days in France versus 165 days in the UK (p<0.001). High-priority listing occurred in 54% and 51% of transplanted patients respectively in France and the UK (p=0.8). Factors associated with achieving transplantation related to recipients’ height, male sex, clinical severity and priority listing status. 1-year post-transplant survival was 78% in France and 72% in the UK (p= 0.04). Conclusion Access to transplantation for PH patients is better in France than in the UK where more patients were delisted due to clinical deterioration because of longer waiting time. High rates of priority listing occurred in both countries. Survival for those achieving transplantation was slightly better in France. Ensuring optimal outcomes after transplant listing for PH patients is challenging and may involve early listing of higher risk patients, increasing donor lung utilisation and improving allocation rules for these specific patients
Selective Area Superconductor Epitaxy to Ballistic Semiconductor Nanowires
Semiconductor nanowires such as InAs and InSb are promising materials for
studying Majorana zero-modes and demonstrating non-Abelian particle exchange
relevant for topological quantum computing. While evidence for Majorana bound
states in nanowires has been shown, the majority of these experiments are
marked by significant disorder. In particular, the interfacial inhomogeneity
between the superconductor and nanowire is strongly believed to be the main
culprit for disorder and the resulting soft superconducting gap ubiquitous in
tunneling studies of hybrid semiconductor-superconductor systems. Additionally,
a lack of ballistic transport in nanowire systems can create bound states that
mimic Majorana signatures. We resolve these problems through the development of
selective-area epitaxy of Al to InSb nanowires, a technique applicable to other
nanowires and superconductors. Epitaxial InSb-Al devices generically possess a
hard superconducting gap and demonstrate ballistic 1D superconductivity and
near perfect transmission of supercurrents in the single mode regime,
requisites for engineering and controlling 1D topological superconductivity.
Additionally, we demonstrate that epitaxial InSb-Al superconducting island
devices, the building blocks for Majorana based quantum computing applications,
prepared using selective area epitaxy can achieve micron scale ballistic 1D
transport. Our results pave the way for the development of networks of
ballistic superconducting electronics for quantum device applications
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