Negative Domain Wall Resistance in Ferromagnets

The electrical resistance of a diffusive ferromagnet with magnetic domain walls is studied theoretically, taking into account the spatial dependence of the magnetization. The semiclassical domain wall resistance is found to be either negative or positive depending on the difference between the spin-dependent scattering life-times. The predictions can be tested experimentally by transport studies in doped ferromagnets.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, accepted Phys. Rev. Let

Results from 10 Years of a CBT Pain Self-Management Outpatient Program for Complex Chronic Conditions

Background. Traditional unimodal interventions may be insufficient for treating complex pain, as they do not address cognitive and behavioural contributors to pain. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and physical exercise (PE) are empirically supported treatments that can reduce pain and improve quality of life. Objectives. To examine the outcomes of a pain self-management outpatient program based on CBT and PE at a rehabilitation hospital in Toronto, Ontario. Methods. The pain management group (PMG) consisted of 20 sessions over 10 weeks. The intervention consisted of four components: education, cognitive behavioural skills, exercise, and self-management strategies. Outcome measures included the sensory, affective, and intensity of pain experience, depression, anxiety, pain disability, active and passive coping style, and general health functioning. Results. From 2002 to 2011, 36 PMGs were run. In total, 311 patients entered the program and 214 completed it. Paired t-tests showed significant pre- to posttreatment improvements in all outcomes measured. Patient outcomes did not differ according to the number or type of diagnoses. Both before and after treatment, women reported more active coping than men. Discussion. The PMGs improved pain self-management for patients with complex pain. Future research should use a randomized controlled design to better understand the outcomes of PMGs

Negative Domain Wall Contribution to the Resistivity of Microfabricated Fe Wires

The effect of domain walls on electron transport has been investigated in microfabricated Fe wires (0.65 to 20 $\mu m$ linewidths) with controlled stripe domains. Magnetoresistance (MR) measurements as a function of domain wall density, temperature and the angle of the applied field are used to determine the low field MR contributions due to conventional sources in ferromagnetic materials and that due to the erasure of domain walls. A negative domain wall contribution to the resistivity is found. This result is discussed in light of a recent theoretical study of the effect of domain walls on quantum transport.Comment: 7 pages, 4 postscript figures and 1 jpg image (Fig. 1

Diffusive and ballistic current spin-polarization in magnetron-sputtered L1o-ordered epitaxial FePt

We report on the structural, magnetic, and electron transport properties of a L1o-ordered epitaxial iron-platinum alloy layer fabricated by magnetron-sputtering on a MgO(001) substrate. The film studied displayed a long range chemical order parameter of S~0.90, and hence has a very strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. In the diffusive electron transport regime, for temperatures ranging from 2 K to 258 K, we found hysteresis in the magnetoresistance mainly due to electron scattering from magnetic domain walls. At 2 K, we observed an overall domain wall magnetoresistance of about 0.5 %. By evaluating the spin current asymmetry alpha = sigma_up / sigma_down, we were able to estimate the diffusive spin current polarization. At all temperatures ranging from 2 K to 258 K, we found a diffusive spin current polarization of > 80%. To study the ballistic transport regime, we have performed point-contact Andreev-reflection measurements at 4.2 K. We obtained a value for the ballistic current spin polarization of ~42% (which compares very well with that of a polycrystalline thin film of elemental Fe). We attribute the discrepancy to a difference in the characteristic scattering times for oppositely spin-polarized electrons, such scattering times influencing the diffusive but not the ballistic current spin polarization.Comment: 22 pages, 13 figure

Total versus partial knee replacement in patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis : the TOPKAT RCT

Article history The research reported in this issue of the journal was funded by the HTA programme as project number 08/14/08. The contractual start date was in January 2010. The draft report began editorial review in February 2019 and was accepted for publication in October 2019. The authors have been wholly responsible for all data collection, analysis and interpretation, and for writing up their work. The HTA editors and publisher have tried to ensure the accuracy of the authors’ report and would like to thank the reviewers for their constructive comments on the draft document. However, they do not accept liability for damages or losses arising from material published in this report. Acknowledgements TOPKAT study group Chief investigator David Beard. Trial co-investigators Nigel Arden (Oxford), Helen Campbell (Oxford), Marion Campbell (Aberdeen), Andrew Carr (Oxford), Jonathan Cook (Aberdeen then Oxford), Helen Doll (Oxford), Ray Fitzpatrick (Oxford), David Murray (Oxford) and Andrew Price (Oxford). Trial management Mayret Castillo (until 2011), Cushla Cooper, Loretta Davies, Anne Duncan (until 2017), Gordon Fernie, Sophie Halpin (until 2015) and Alison McDonald. Trial administration Katie Chegwin, Jiyang Li (until 2018), Elena Rabaiotti (until 2013), Sandra Regan (until 2012) and Victoria Stalker (until 2014). Data management Diana Collins (until 2013), Janice Cruden, Akiko Greshon, Kay Holland and Beverley Smith (until 2017). Database/programming management Gladys McPherson. Trial statisticians Charles Boachie (until 2013), Jemma Hudson and Graeme MacLennan. Health economists Helen Campbell (until 2015), Francesco Fusco (until 2018), Seamus Kent and Jose Leal. We would also like to thank Hannah Wilson (DPhil student, University of Oxford) for her help with the update to the literature search. Research teams We are grateful to the participants and research teams at collaborating hospital sites: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Royal Gwent Hospital Ruth Jenkins, Mark Lewis [principal investigator (PI)] and Witek Mintowt-Czyz. Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Musgrove Park Hospital, Belfast David Beverland (PI), Leeann Bryce, Julie Catney, Ian Dobie, Emer Doran and Seamus O’Brien. Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Fazal Ali, Heather Cripps, Amanda Whileman, Phil Williams (PI) and Julie Toms. County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Ellen Brown, Gillian Horner, Andrew Jennings (PI) and Glynis Rose. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Royal Blackburn Hospital Frances Bamford, Wendy Goddard, Hans Marynissen (PI), Haleh Peel and Lyndsey Richards. Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Swindon Amanda Bell, Sunny Deo, Sarah Grayland, David Hollinghurst, Suzannah Pegler, Venkat Satish (PI) and Claire Woodruffe. Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, Harrogate Nick London (PI), David Duffy, Caroline Bennett and James Featherstone. Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust Joss Cook, Kim Dearnley, Nagarajan Muthukumar (PI), Laura Onuoha and Sarah Wilson. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Medway Sandhu Banher, Eunice Emeakaroha, Jamie Horohan, Sunil Jain (PI) and Susan Thompson. Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust Sarah Buckley, Aaron Ng (PI), Ajit Shetty and Karen Simeson. Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Julian Flynn, Meryl Newsom, Cheryl Padilla-Harris and Oliver Pearce (PI). NHS Grampian, Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen James Bidwell (PI), Alison Innes, Winifred Culley and Bill Ledingham and Janis Stephen. North Bristol NHS Trust Rachel Bray, Hywel Davies, Debbie Delgado, Jonathan Eldridge, Leigh Morrison, James Murray (PI), Andrew Porteous and James Robinson. North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, Carlisle Matt Dawson (PI), Raj Dharmarajan, David Elson, Will Hage, Nicci Kelsall and Mike Orr. North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, Stockton-On-Tees Jackie Grosvenor, SS Maheswaran (PI), Claire McCue, Hemanth Venkatesh, Michelle Wild and Deborah Wilson. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre Chris Dodd, William Jackson (PI), Pam Lovegrove, David Murray, Jennifer Piper and Andrew Price. Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath Neil Bradbury, Lucy Clark, Stefanie Duncan, Genevieve Simpson and Allister Trezies (PI). Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Kings Mill Hospital, Sutton in Ashfield Vikram Desai (PI), Cheryl Heeley, Kramer Guy and Rosalyn Jackson. South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Torbay Alan Hall, Gordon Higgins (PI), Michael Hockings, David Isaac and Pauline Mercer. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport Lindsey Barber, Helen Cochrane, Janette Curtis, Julie Grindey, David Johnson (PI), and Phil Turner. The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Trust David Houlihan-Burne (PI), Briony Hill, Ron Langstaff and Mariam Nasseri. The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, Ipswich Mark Bowditch, Chris Martin, Steven Pryke, Bally Purewal, Chris Servant (PI), Sheeba Suresh and Claire Tricker. University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester Robert Ashford, Manjit Attwal, Jeanette Bunga, Urjit Chatterji, Susan Cockburn, Colin Esler (PI), Steven Godsiff, Tim Green, Christina Haines and Subash Tandon. University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Stoke on Trent Racquel Carpio, Sarah Griffiths, Natalie Grocott and Ian dos Remedios (PI). University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust David Barrett, Phil Chapman-Sheath, Caroline Grabau, Jane Moghul, William Tice (PI) and Catherine Trevithick. United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Boston Rajiv Deshmukh, Mandy Howes, Kimberley Netherton, Dipak Raj (PI) and Nikki Travis. United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Lincoln Mohammad Maqsood, Rebecca Norton, Farzana Rashid, Alison Raynor, Mark Rowsell and Karen Warner. We would like to thank the external members of the TSC and DMC for their advice and support for the project. Trial Steering Committee Donna Dodwell as our patient representative, Simon Donell (chairperson) (University of East Anglia), Shawn Tavares (Royal Berkshire Hospital) and Jonathan Waite (South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust). Data Monitoring Committee Karen Barker (Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), Gordon Murray (chairperson) (University of Edinburgh) and Hamish Simpson (University of Edinburgh). Independent review and interpretation of results Professor David Torgerson (University of York). Professor Chris Maher (University of Sydney). Mr Peter Brownson (The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust). Professor Simon Donell (University of East Anglia, Norwich). Mr Mark Mullins (Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board). Professor Jane Blazeby (Bristol University).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Magnetoresistance, Micromagnetism, and Domain Wall Scattering in Epitaxial hcp Co Films

Large negative magnetoresistance (MR) observed in transport measurements of hcp Co films with stripe domains were recently reported and interpreted in terms of a novel domain wall (DW) scattering mechanism. Here detailed MR measurements, magnetic force microscopy, and micromagnetic calculations are combined to elucidate the origin of MR in this material. The large negative room temperature MR reported previously is shown to be due to ferromagnetic resistivity anisotropy. Measurements of the resistivity for currents parallel (CIW) and perpendicular to DWs (CPW) have been conducted as a function of temperature. Low temperature results show that any intrinsic effect of DWs scattering on MR of this material is very small compared to the anisotropic MR.Comment: 5 pages, 5 Figures, submitted to PR

Increasing intensities of Anisakis simplex third-stage larvae (L3) in Atlantic salmon of coastal waters of Scotland

Background: Red Vent Syndrome (RVS), a haemorrhagic inflammation of the vent region in Atlantic salmon, is associated with high abundance of Anisakis simplex (s.s.) third-stage larvae (L3) in the vent region. Despite evidence suggesting that increasing A. simplex (s.s.) intensity is a causative factor in RVS aetiology, the definitive cause remains unclear.Methods: A total of 117 Atlantic salmon were sampled from commercial fisheries on the East, West, and North coasts of Scotland and examined for ascaridoid parasites. Genetic identification of a subsample of Anisakis larvae was per-formed using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. To assess the extent of differentiation of feeding grounds and dietary composition, stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen was carried out on Atlantic salmon muscle tissue.Results: In the present study, the obtained ITS rDNA sequences matched A. simplex (s.s.) sequences deposited in GenBank at 99–100%. Not all isolated larvae (n=30,406) were genetically identified. Therefore, the morphotype found in this study is referred to as A. simplex (sensu lato). Anisakis simplex (s.l.) was the most prevalent (100%) nematode with the highest mean intensity (259.9 ±197.3), in comparison to Hysterothylacium aduncum (66.7%, 6.4 ± 10.2) and Pseudoterranova decipiens (s.l.) (14.5%, 1.4 ±0.6). The mean intensity of A. simplex (s.l.) represents a four-fold increase compared to published data (63.6 ±31.9) from salmon captured in Scotland in 2009. Significant positive correlations between A. simplex (s.l.) larvae intensities from the body and the vent suggest that they play a role in the emergence of RVS. The lack of a significant variation in stable isotope ratios of Atlantic salmon indicates that diet or feeding ground are not driving regional differences in A. simplex (s.l.) intensities.Conclusions: This paper presents the most recent survey for ascaridoid parasites of wild Atlantic salmon from three coastal regions in Scotland. A significant rise in A. simplex (s.l.) intensity could potentially increase both natural mortal-ity rates of Atlantic salmon and possible risks for salmon consumers due to the known zoonotic role of A. simplex (s.s.) and A. pegreffii within the A. simplex (s.l.) species complex

IMPLEmenting a clinical practice guideline for acute low back pain evidence-based manageMENT in general practice (IMPLEMENT) : cluster randomised controlled trial study protocol

Background: Evidence generated from reliable research is not frequently implemented into clinical practice. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are a potential vehicle to achieve this. A recent systematic review of implementation strategies of guideline dissemination concluded that there was a lack of evidence regarding effective strategies to promote the uptake of guidelines. Recommendations from this review, and other studies, have suggested the use of interventions that are theoretically based because these may be more effective than those that are not. An evidencebased clinical practice guideline for the management of acute low back pain was recently developed in Australia. This provides an opportunity to develop and test a theory-based implementation intervention for a condition which is common, has a high burden, and for which there is an evidence-practice gap in the primary care setting. Aim: This study aims to test the effectiveness of a theory-based intervention for implementing a clinical practice guideline for acute low back pain in general practice in Victoria, Australia. Specifically, our primary objectives are to establish if the intervention is effective in reducing the percentage of patients who are referred for a plain x-ray, and improving mean level of disability for patients three months post-consultation. Methods/Design: This study protocol describes the details of a cluster randomised controlled trial. Ninety-two general practices (clusters), which include at least one consenting general practitioner, will be randomised to an intervention or control arm using restricted randomisation. Patients aged 18 years or older who visit a participating practitioner for acute non-specific low back pain of less than three months duration will be eligible for inclusion. An average of twenty-five patients per general practice will be recruited, providing a total of 2,300 patient participants. General practitioners in the control arm will receive access to the guideline using the existing dissemination strategy. Practitioners in the intervention arm will be invited to participate in facilitated face-to-face workshops that have been underpinned by behavioural theory. Investigators (not involved in the delivery of the intervention), patients, outcome assessors and the study statistician will be blinded to group allocation. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN012606000098538 (date registered 14/03/2006).The trial is funded by the NHMRC by way of a Primary Health Care Project Grant (334060). JF has 50% of her time funded by the Chief Scientist Office3/2006). of the Scottish Government Health Directorate and 50% by the University of Aberdeen. PK is supported by a NHMRC Health Professional Fellowship (384366) and RB by a NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship (334010). JG holds a Canada Research Chair in Health Knowledge Transfer and Uptake. All other authors are funded by their own institutions

Factors Associated with the Rapid and Durable Decline in Malaria Incidence in El Salvador, 1980-2017

A decade after the Global Malaria Eradication Program, El Salvador had the highest burden of malaria in Mesoamerica, with approximately 20% due to Plasmodium falciparum. A resurgence of malaria in the 1970s led El Salvador to alter its national malaria control strategy. By 1995, El Salvador recorded its last autochthonous P. falciparum case with fewer than 20 Plasmodium vivax cases annually since 2011. By contrast, its immediate neighbors continue to have the highest incidences of malaria in the region. We reviewed and evaluated the policies and interventions implemented by the Salvadoran National Malaria Program that likely contributed to this progress toward malaria elimination. Decentralization of the malaria program, early regional stratification by risk, and data-driven stratum-specific actions resulted in the timely and targeted allocation of resources for vector control, surveillance, case detection, and treatment. Weekly reporting by health workers and volunteer collaborators-distributed throughout the country by strata and informed via the national surveillance system-enabled local malaria teams to provide rapid, adaptive, and focalized program actions. Sustained investments in surveillance and response have led to a dramatic reduction in local transmission, with most current malaria cases in El Salvador due to importation from neighboring countries. Additional support for systematic elimination efforts in neighboring countries would benefit the region and may be needed for El Salvador to achieve and maintain malaria elimination. El Salvador's experience provides a relevant case study that can guide the application of similar strategies in other countries committed to malaria elimination