An approximation algorithm for the solution of the nonlinear Lane-Emden type equations arising in astrophysics using Hermite functions collocation method

In this paper we propose a collocation method for solving some well-known classes of Lane-Emden type equations which are nonlinear ordinary differential equations on the semi-infinite domain. They are categorized as singular initial value problems. The proposed approach is based on a Hermite function collocation (HFC) method. To illustrate the reliability of the method, some special cases of the equations are solved as test examples. The new method reduces the solution of a problem to the solution of a system of algebraic equations. Hermite functions have prefect properties that make them useful to achieve this goal. We compare the present work with some well-known results and show that the new method is efficient and applicable.Comment: 34 pages, 13 figures, Published in "Computer Physics Communications

Gravitational form factors of Δ\Delta baryon via QCD sum rules

The gravitational form factors of a hadron are defined through the matrix elements of the energy-momentum tensor current, which can be decomposed into the quark and gluonic parts, between the hadronic states. These form factors provide important information for answering fundamental questions about the distribution of the energy, the spin, the pressure and the shear forces inside the hadrons. Theoretical and experimental studies of these form factors provide exciting insights on the inner structure and geometric shapes of hadrons. Inspired by this, the gravitational form factors of $\Delta$ resonance are calculated by employing the QCD sum rule approach. The acquired gravitational form factors are used to calculate the composite gravitational form factors like the energy and angular momentum multipole form factors, D-terms related to the mechanical properties like the internal pressure and shear forces as well as the mass radius of the system. The predictions are compared with the existing results in the literature.Comment: 18 Pages, 3Figures and 3 Table

Nutritional care of elderly patients in acute care settings: A qualitative study

© 2016 Japan Geriatrics Society. Aim: Poor nutritional status is common in older adult patients. The present study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to nutritional care of elderly patients in acute care settings. Methods: Data were collected through individual face-to-face interviews with 12 registered nurses, and analyzed using interpretive description methodology. Results: Two core themes emerged from the analysis of data: (i) neglected care, with three subthemes of "support but also independence," "unsupportive environment" and "responsibility of the family;" and (ii) a humanitarian ethic, with two subthemes of "respect and dignity" and "humanitarian care." Conclusions: As an integral part of holistic care, elderly patient nutrition should be emphasised in health professional education, and promoted through managerial support, multidisciplinary collaborations, and implementation of appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems

The algebraic hyperstructure of elementary particles in physical theory

Algebraic hyperstructures represent a natural extension of classical algebraic structures. In a classical algebraic structure, the composition of two elements is an element, while in an algebraic hyperstructure, the composition of two elements is a set. Algebraic hyperstructure theory has a multiplicity of applications to other disciplines. The main purpose of this paper is to provide examples of hyperstructures associated with elementary particles in physical theory.Comment: 13 page

Monitoring of Cochlodinium polykrikoides blooms as a harmful phenomenon in the Persian Gulf (2010-2011)

The monitoring of the harmful bloom of Cochlodinium polykrikoides in the northern Persian Gulf was studied during 2010 to 2011. The results revealed that in the waters of Hormozgan Province, the Diatoms and Dinoflgellates had the highest frequency. No significant difference was found for amount of nutrients in three sub- regions. The bloom of C. polykrikoides was higher in central sub-region in spring and was occurred in the eastern sub-region in summer, but no mortality of fishes was recorded. In Bushehr Province, four classes of Bacillaryophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Dynophyceae and Prymnesiophyceae were determined. Furthermore significant different values of nutrients were recorded. In waters of Khuzestan Province, different values of NH4 were measured for different months. In total, the measured ratio of N: P in all months was lower than Redfield Ratio (16:1) in which subsequently the environmental condition was not suitable for bloom of C. polykrikoides

The effects of different levels of sodium caseinate on rumen fermentation pattern, digestibility and microbial protein synthesis of Holstein dairy cows

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of peptide supplementation on rumen fermentation pattern, digestibility and microbial protein synthesis. Three rumen-cannulated Holstein dairy cows were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square experiment within 21 days period. The ruminal infusion of sodium caseinate (CN) was 0 (control), 50 and 100 g/d. Dry matter intake, milk yield and composition , total tract apparent digestibility of nutrient, rumen parameters and purine derivatives inurine of cows were measured. Results showed that dairy cows received sodium caseinate, had significantly increased microbial protein synthesis, milk fat yield, acetate and branched chain fatty acids concentrations in rumen fluid and fiber digestibility compared with the control treatment (P <0.05). CN significantly affected the concentrations of rumen ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), rumen peptide nitrogen (Pep-N) and the ratio of rumen ammonia nitrogen/ rumen peptide nitrogen (P < 0.05) and consequently blood urea nitrogen, milk urea nitrogen and urinary urea nitrogen concentrations. However digestibility of dry matter and crude protein did not differ among treatments. In conclusion, if the optimum level of NH3-N/Pep-N was the best compromise among the need for rumen fermentation, microbial protein synthesis and nitrogen excretion through urine in animal, the recommended level from this study would be 0.86 in rumen fluid

The association between serum uric acid and the incidence of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus: The Rotterdam Study

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence is available about the association between serum uric acid and sub-stages of the spectrum from normoglycaemia to type 2 diabetes mellitus. We aimed to investigate the association between serum uric acid and risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Eligible participants of the Rotterdam Study (n = 8,367) were classified into mutually exclusive subgroups of normoglycaemia (n = 7,030) and prediabetes (n = 1,337) at baseline. These subgroups were followed up for incident prediabetes (n = 1,071) and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 407), respectively. We used Cox proportional hazard models to determine hazard ratios (HRs) for incident prediabetes among individuals with normoglycaemia and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus among individuals with prediabetes. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up was 7.5 years for incident prediabetes and 7.2 years for incident type 2 diabetes mellitus. A standard deviation increment in serum uric acid was significantly associated with incident prediabetes among individuals with normoglycaemia (HR 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01; 1.18), but not with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus among individuals with prediabetes (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.94; 1.21). Exclusion of individuals who used diuretics or individuals with hypertension did not change our results. Serum uric acid was significantly associated with incident prediabetes among normoglycaemic women (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.02; 1.25) but not among normoglycaemic men (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.96; 1.21). In contrast, serum uric acid was significantly associated with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus among prediabetic men (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.01; 1.48) but not among prediabetic women (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.84; 1.19). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings agree with the notion that serum uric acid is more closely related to early-phase mechanisms in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus than late-phase mechanisms

The dietary changes during Ramadan and their impact on anthropometry, blood pressure, and metabolic profile

BackgroundThe effect of Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) on the metabolic profile, anthropometry and blood pressure has been investigated in multiple studies. However, it is still unknown to what extent changes in nutrient intakes contribute to these changes.MethodsThis observational study was conducted in London (UK) in 2019. The study collected diverse data from a community-based sample in London before and during/after Ramadan. Collected data included a 3-day food diary (before and during Ramadan), as well as blood samples, anthropometric measurements and blood pressure (before and after Ramadan). The food diary was translated into nutritional data using nutrition software “Nutritics.” The changes in nutrient intakes were investigated using a mixed-effects regression model. The impact of adjusting for nutrient intake change was investigated on the absolute difference of metabolites (Nightingale platform), systolic/diastolic blood pressure and anthropometric measures.ResultsThe study collected data on food intake before and during Ramadan from 56 participants; the mean age was 44.7 ± 17.3, and 51.8% (n = 29) were females. We found a change in the intake of 11 nutritional factors, glucose, fructose, betaine, sugars, sugars as monosaccharide equivalents, lutein/zeaxanthin, starch, starch as monosaccharide equivalents, proline, glutamic acid and lycopene. No changes in quantities or proportions of macronutrients, carbohydrates, protein and fat. Mainly, the changes in diet during Ramadan are characterized by more consumption of sugars (62%, p < 0.001) and a lower intake of starch (−21%, p = 0.012). The changes in 14 metabolite levels (two glycolysis-related metabolites, one amino acid, two ketone bodies, two triglyceride, six lipoprotein subclasses, and an inflammation marker) after Ramadan were partially associated with some changes in nutrient intakes during Ramadan, especially betaine, fructose, glucose, starches and sugars. The lutein/zeaxanthin intake change explained inversely 14% of systolic blood pressure changes. Moreover, BMI and weight changes were partially explained by changes in intake of fat (7%; 9%), monounsaturated fat (6%; 7%), starch (8%; 9%), and starch as monosaccharide equivalents (8%; 9%) intakes in a direct relationship.ConclusionDiet changes during Ramadan were associated partially with the observed changes in the metabolic profile, blood pressure and anthropometry. This confirms the changes associated with RIF in the metabolic profile, blood pressure and anthropometry are not an absolute physiological response to the diet transition occurring during Ramadan

Genetic susceptibility, elevated blood pressure, and risk of atrial fibrillation: a Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND: Whether elevated blood pressure (BP) is a modifiable risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) is not established. We tested (1) whether the association between BP and risk of AF is causal, (2) whether it varies according to individual’s genetic susceptibility for AF, and (3) the extent to which specific BP-lowering drugs are expected to reduce this risk. METHODS: First, causality of association was assessed through two-sample Mendelian randomization, using data from two independent genome-wide association studies that included a population of one million Europeans in total. Second, the UK Biobank data of 329,237 participants at baseline was used to study the effect of BP on AF according to genetic susceptibility of developing AF. Third, a possible treatment effect with major BP-lowering drug classes on AF risk was predicted through genetic variants in genes encode the therapeutic targets of each drug class. Estimated drug effects were compared with effects on incident coronary heart disease, for which direct trial evidence exists. RESULTS: The two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis indicated that, on average, exposure to a higher systolic BP increased the risk of AF by 19% (odds ratio per each 10-mmHg [OR] 1.19 [1.12 to 1.27]). This association was replicated in the UK biobank using individual participant data. However, in a further genetic risk-stratified analysis, there was evidence for a linear gradient in the relative effects of systolic BP on AF; while there was no conclusive evidence of an effect in those with low genetic risk, a strong effect was observed among those with high genetic susceptibility for AF. The comparison of predicted treatment effects using genetic proxies for three main drug classes (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers) suggested similar average effects for the prevention of atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of elevated BP on the risk of AF is likely to be causal, suggesting that BP-lowering treatment may be effective in AF prevention. However, average effects masked clinically important variations, with a more pronounced effect in individuals with high genetic susceptibility risk for AF

The recovery movement and its implications for policy, commissioning and practice

While a recovery approach is widespread and relatively unquestioned in the USA, its implementation in the UK and to a lesser extent in Australia has provoked a number of questions about what this means in practice and what some of the implications are for treatment. This is particularly important as there is growing interest in recovery in Western Europe with policy recognition in Belgium and the Netherlands, and increased interest in research issues around recovery. What this article sets out to do is to discuss the implications of a recovery model for commissioning and treatment systems, with a focus on where recovery approaches sit and what they can offer in terms of added value to treatment approaches