4,635 research outputs found
Coupling of a locally implanted rare-earth ion ensemble to a superconducting micro-resonator
We demonstrate the coupling of rare-earth ions locally implanted in a
substrate (Gd in AlO) to a superconducting NbN
lumped-element micro-resonator. The hybrid device is fabricated by a controlled
ion implantation of rare-earth ions in well-defined micron-sized areas, aligned
to lithographically defined micro-resonators. The technique does not degrade
the internal quality factor of the resonators which remain above .
Using microwave absorption spectroscopy we observe electron-spin resonances in
good agreement with numerical modelling and extract corresponding coupling
rates of the order of MHz and spin linewidths of MHz.Comment: 4 pages, 2 Figure
Caudal cervical vertebral morphological variation is not associated with clinical signs in Warmblood horses
Background Variation in equine caudal cervical spine morphology at C6 and C7 has high prevalence in Warmblood horses and is suspected to be associated with pain in a large mixed-breed group of horses. At present no data exist on the relationship between radiographic phenotype and clinical presentation in Warmblood horses in a case-control study. Objectives To establish the frequency of radiographically visible morphologic variation in a large group of Warmblood horses with clinical signs and compare this with a group without clinical signs. We hypothesised that occurrence of morphologic variation in the case group would not differ from the control group, indicating there is no association between clinical signs and morphologic variation. Study design Retrospective case-control. Methods Radiographic presence or absence of morphologic variation of cervical vertebrae C6 and C7 was recorded in case (n = 245) and control horses (n = 132). Case and control groups were compared by univariable Pearson's Chi-square and multivariable logistic regression for measurement variables age, sex, breed, degenerative joint disease and morphologic variation at C6 and C7. Odds ratio and confidence intervals were obtained. A P <= 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Morphologic variation at C6 and C7 (n = 108/377 = 28.6%; Cases 58/245 = 23.7%; Control 50/132 = 38%) was less frequent in horses with clinical signs in univariable testing (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, P = 0.001). Age, sex, breed and degenerative joint disease were not retained in the final multivariable logistic regression step whereas morphologic variation remained significantly less present in horses with clinical signs. Main limitations Possible demographic differences between equine clinics. Conclusions Morphologic variation in the caudal cervical spine was detected more frequently in horses without clinical signs. Therefore, radiographic presence of such variation does not necessarily implicate the presence of clinical signs
An urban perinatal health programme of strategies to improve perinatal health
Promotion of a healthy pregnancy is a top priority of the health care policy in many European countries. Perinatal mortality is an important indicator of the success of this policy. Recently, it was shown that the Netherlands has relatively high perinatal death rates when compared to other European countries. This is in particular true for large cities where perinatal mortality rates are 20-50% higher than elsewhere. Consequently in the Netherlands, there is heated debate on how to tackle these problems. Without the introduction of measures throughout the entire perinatal health care chain, pregnancy outcomes are difficult to improve. With the support of health care professionals, the City of Rotterdam and the Erasmus University Medical Centre have taken the initiative to develop an urban perinatal health programme called 'Ready for a Baby'. The main objective of this municipal 10-year programme is to improve perinatal health and to reduce perinatal mortality in all districts to at least the current national average of 10 per 1000. Key elements are the understanding of the mechanisms of the large health differences between women living in deprived and nondeprived urban areas. Risk guided care, orientation towards shared-care and improvement of collaborations between health care professionals shapes the interventions that are being developed. Major attention is given to the development of methods to improve risk-selection before and during pregnancy and methods to reach low-educated and immigrant groups
Angle-Dependent Microresonator ESR Characterization of Locally Doped Gd3+:Al2O3
Interfacing rare-earth-doped crystals with superconducting circuit architectures provides an attractive platform for quantum memory and transducer devices. Here, we present the detailed characterization of such a hybrid system: a locally implanted rare-earth Gd3+ in Al2O3 spin system coupled to a superconducting microresonator. We investigate the properties of the implanted spin system through angular-dependent microresonator electron spin resonance (micro-ESR) spectroscopy. We find, despite the high-energy near-surface implantation, the resulting micro-ESR spectra to be in excellent agreement with the modeled Hamiltonian, supporting the integration of dopant ions into their relevant lattice sites while maintaining crystalline symmetries. Furthermore, we observe clear contributions from individual microwave field components of our microresonator, emphasizing the need for controllable local implantation
Effect of Fluticasone propionate Aqueous Nasal Spray Treatment on Platelet Activating Factor and Eicosanoid Production By nasal Mucosa in Patients with A house Dust Mite Allergy
The relationship between the release of platelet activating factor
(PAF), leukotriene C4/D4/EE
(LTC4/D4/E4) and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2)
from nasal mucosa in vivo was examined in 24 rhinitis patients
allergic to the house dust mite (HDM). During a double blind placebo
controlled cross-over study 200 μg fluticasone propionate aqueous
nasal spray (FPANS) was administered twice daily for two weeks. In
response to allergen provocation (100, 1 000, 10 000 Bu/ml) and
during the 9.5 h after this challenge the nasal fluid was obtained
by washing the nose with saline and the levels of PAF, LTC4/D4/E4 and
PGD2, as indicators of mediator release, were measured at the
following time-points: baseline (t = − 1/2), allergen provocation with
10 000 Bu/ml (t = 0), 3.5 and 7.5 h (late phase). After allergen
provocation the levels of the mediators increased in the nasal
fluids of placebo treated patients (x-fold increase to baseline:
PAF, 15; LTC4/D4/E4, 12; PGD2, 1.5). In fluids of patients treated
with FPANS these levels tended to decrease. At the time of
provocation the levels of PAF, LTC4/D4/E4 and PGD2 showed a significant
correlation. The results indicate that these mediators can be used
as markers of allergic reactions against house dust mites and that
fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray tended to reduce the
release of mediators of inflammation correlated with beneficial
effects on clinical symptoms in this type of allergic reactions
Development and geometry of isotropic and directional shrinkage crack patterns
We have studied shrinkage crack patterns which form when a thin layer of an
alumina/water slurry dries. Both isotropic and directional drying were studied.
The dynamics of the pattern formation process and the geometric properties of
the isotropic crack patterns are similar to what is expected from recent
models, assuming weak disorder. There is some evidence for a gradual increase
in disorder as the drying layer become thinner, but no sudden transition, in
contrast to what has been seen in previous experiments. The morphology of the
crack patterns is influenced by drying gradients and front propagation effects,
with sharp gradients having a strong orienting and ordering effect.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figures, 8 in jpg format, 3 in postscript. See also
http://mobydick.physics.utoronto.ca/mud.htm
Study protocol: evaluation of a parenting and stress management programme: a randomised controlled trial of Triple P discussion groups and stress control
<br>Background: Children displaying psychosocial problems are at an increased risk of negative developmental outcomes. Parenting practices are closely linked with child development and behaviour, and parenting programmes have been recommended in the treatment of child psychosocial problems. However, parental mental health also needs to be addressed when delivering parenting programmes as it is linked with parenting practices, child outcomes, and treatment outcomes of parenting programmes. This paper describes the protocol of a study examining the effects of a combined intervention of a parenting programme and a cognitive behavioural intervention for mental health problems.</br>
<br>Methods: The effects of a combined intervention of Triple P Discussion Groups and Stress Control will be examined using a randomised controlled trial design. Parents with a child aged 3?8?years will be recruited to take part in the study. After obtaining informed consent and pre-intervention measures, participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention or a waitlist condition. The two primary outcomes for this study are change in dysfunctional/ineffective parenting practices and change in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Secondary outcomes are child behaviour problems, parenting experiences, parental self-efficacy, family relationships, and positive parental mental health. Demographic information, participant satisfaction with the intervention, and treatment fidelity data will also be collected. Data will be collected at pre-intervention, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up.</br>
<br>Discussion: The aim of this paper is to describe the study protocol of a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effects of a combined intervention of Triple P Discussion Groups and Stress Control in comparison to a waitlist condition. This study is important because it will provide evidence about the effects of this combined intervention for parents with 3?8?year old children. The results of the study could be used to inform policy about parenting support and support for parents with mental health problems. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT01777724, UTN: U1111-1137-1053.</br>
Density functional electronic spectrum of the cluster and possible local Jahn-Teller distorsions in the La-Ba-Cu-O superconductor
We present a density functional theory (DFT) calculation in the generalized
gradient approximation to study the possibility for the existence of
Jahn-Teller (JT) or pseudo Jahn-Teller (PJT) type local distortions in the
La-Ba-Cu-O superconducting system. We performed the calculation and
correspondingly group theory classification of the electronic ground state of
the CuO elongated octahedra cluster, immersed in a background
simulating the superconductor. Part of the motivation to do this study is that
the origin of the apical deformation of the CuO cluster is not
due to a pure JT effect, having therefore a non {\it a priori} condition to
remove the degeneracy of the electronic ground state of the parent regular
octahedron. We present a comparative analysis of the symmetry classified
electron spectrum with previously reported results using unrestricted
Hartree-Fock calculations (UHF). Both the DFT and UHF calculations produced a
non degenerate electronic ground state, not having therefore the necessary
condition for a pure JT effect. However, the appearance of a degenerate E
state near to the highest occupied molecular orbital in the DFT calculation,
suggests the possibility for a PJT effect responsible for a local distortion of
the oxidized CuO cluster.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, submitted to International Journal of Modern
Physics B (IJMPB
Field-Induced Quantum Criticality of Systems with Ferromagnetically Coupled Structural Spin Units
The field-induced quantum criticality of compounds with ferromagnetically
coupled structural spin units (as dimers and ladders) is explored by applying
Wilson's renormalization group framework to an appropriate effective action. We
determine the low-temperature phase boundary and the behavior of relevant
quantities decreasing the temperature with the applied magnetic field fixed at
its quantum critical point value. In this context, a plausible interpretation
of some recent experimental results is also suggested.Comment: to be published in Physics Letters
Imatinib, sunitinib and pazopanib:From flat-fixed dosing towards a pharmacokinetically guided personalized dose
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are anti-cancer drugs that target tyrosine kinases, enzymes that are involved in multiple cellular processes. Currently, multiple oral TKIs have been introduced in the treatment of solid tumours, all administered in a fixed dose, although large interpatient pharmacokinetic (PK) variability is described. For imatinib, sunitinib and pazopanib exposure-treatment outcome (efficacy and toxicity) relationships have been established and therapeutic windows have been defined, therefore dose optimization based on the measured blood concentration, called therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), can be valuable in increasing efficacy and reducing the toxicity of these drugs. In this review, an overview of the current knowledge on TDM guided individualized dosing of imatinib, sunitinib and pazopanib for the treatment of solid tumours is presented. We summarize preclinical and clinical data that have defined thresholds for efficacy and toxicity. Furthermore, PK models and factors that influence the PK of these drugs which partly explain the interpatient PK variability are summarized. Finally, pharmacological interventions that have been performed to optimize plasma concentrations are described. Based on current literature, we advise which methods should be used to optimize exposure to imatinib, sunitinib and pazopanib
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