Creating a junior minds' community : The Swiss Association of Young Neurologists

Connecting with junior colleagues across the three linguistic regions of Switzerland, knowing the essentials of the Swiss neurology curriculum, conducting research, considering a fellowship abroad, preparing neurological activity in private practice - all these topics are of vital interest for young neurologists. However, keeping up with such essential aspects of neurological training usually turns out quite demanding for residents as individuals. Junior neurologists’ associations help to deal with such issues. In 2014, a group of enthusiastic juniors, encouraged by several senior neurologists, founded the Swiss Association of Young Neurologists (SAYN) within the Swiss Neurological Society (SNS). Here, we describe key missions and activities of the SAYN, its role and interactions within the Swiss and European clinical neuroscience community, and provide an outlook on future challenges and opportunities for young neurologists

Order to disorder transition in the XY-like quantum magnet Cs2CoCl4 induced by noncommuting applied fields

We explore the effects of noncommuting applied fields on the ground-state ordering of the quasi-one-dimensional spin-1/2 XY-like antiferromagnet Cs2CoCl4 using single-crystal neutron diffraction. In zero field interchain couplings cause long-range order below T_N=217(5) mK with chains ordered antiferromagnetically along their length and moments confined to the (b,c) plane. Magnetic fields applied at an angle to the XY planes are found to initially stabilize the order by promoting a spin-flop phase with an increased perpendicular antiferromagnetic moment. In higher fields the antiferromagnetic order becomes unstable and a transition occurs to a phase with no long-range order in the (b,c) plane, proposed to be a spin liquid phase that arises when the quantum fluctuations induced by the noncommuting field become strong enough to overcome ordering tendencies. Magnetization measurements confirm that saturation occurs at much higher fields and that the proposed spin-liquid state exists in the region 2.10 < H_SL < 2.52 T || a. The observed phase diagram is discussed in terms of known results on XY-like chains in coexisting longitudinal and transverse fields.Comment: revtex, 14 figures, 2 tables, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Magnetically Levitated Autoparametric Broadband Vibration Energy Harvesting

Some of the lingering challenges within the current paradigm of vibration energy harvesting (VEH) involve narrow operational frequency range and the inevitable non-resonant response from broadband noise excitations. Such VEHs are only suitable for limited applications with fixed sinusoidal vibration, and fail to capture a large spectrum of the real world vibration. Various arraying designs, frequency tuning schemes and nonlinear vibratory approaches have only yielded modest enhancements. To fundamentally address this, the paper proposes and explores the potentials in using highly nonlinear magnetic spring force to activate an autoparametric oscillator, in order to realize an inherently broadband resonant system. Analytical and numerical modelling illustrate that high spring nonlinearity derived from magnetic levitation helps to promote the 2:1 internal frequency matching required to activate parametric resonance. At the right internal parameters, the resulting system can intrinsically exhibit semi-resonant response regardless of the bandwidth of the input vibration, including broadband white noise excitation

The influence of patients' nutritional risk, nutritional status, and energy density in MEDPass versus conventional administration of oral nutritional supplements - A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES The clinical influence of nutritional risk, nutritional status, and energy density of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in MEDPass versus conventional administration of ONS is currently unknown. The aim of this analysis was to examine whether these variables have an impact on clinical outcomes. METHODS Secondary analysis of the intention to treat dataset of the randomized controlled MEDPass Trial in geriatric and medical inpatients. Patients in the intervention group received 4 × 50 ml ONS during the medication rounds (MEDPass mode), while those in the control group received ONS in a non-standardized manner. The examined endpoints included energy and protein coverage, ONS intake, handgrip strength (HGS), weight, appetite nausea and 30-day mortality. Three subgroup analyses for NRS 2002 total score (3, 4 or 5-7 points), NRS 2002 impaired nutritional status score (0, 1, 2 or 3 points) and energy density of the ONS (1.5 kcal/mL or 2 kcal/mL) were performed using linear and logistic regression with interaction and mixed effect models. RESULTS The data of 202 patients (103 women and 99 men) at nutritional risk (NRS total 2002 score ≥3), mean (SD) age 82.2 (6.5) years were included. There was no significant difference between the groups in the primary endpoint energy coverage in all three subgroup analyses. There were also no significant differences between the groups in the secondary endpoints of protein coverage, ONS intake, HGS, weight, appetite, nausea, and 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION The MEDPass mode of ONS administration was not superior to the conventional mode of administration in this study. ONS with high energy density (≥2 kcal/mL) should be offered since current evidence shows a tendency towards improved appetite, increased ONS and increased energy intake

Rotary bistable and Parametrically Excited Vibration Energy Harvesting

Parametric resonance is a type of nonlinear vibration phenomenon [1], [2] induced from the periodic modulation of at least one of the system parameters and has the potential to exhibit interesting higher order nonlinear behaviour [3]. Parametrically excited vibration energy harvesters have been previously shown to enhance both the power amplitude [4] and the frequency bandwidth [5] when compared to the conventional direct resonant approach. However, to practically activate the more profitable regions of parametric resonance, additional design mechanisms [6], [7] are required to overcome a critical initiation threshold amplitude. One route is to establish an autoparametric system where external direct excitation is internally coupled to parametric excitation [8]. For a coupled two degrees of freedom (DoF) oscillatory system, principal autoparametric resonance can be achieved when the natural frequency of the first DoF f1 is twice that of the second DoF f2 and the external excitation is in the vicinity of f1. This paper looks at combining rotary and translatory motion and use autoparametric resonance phenomena

Three-dimensional vision enhances task performance independently of the surgical method

Background: Within the next few years, the medical industry will launch increasingly affordable three-dimensional (3D) vision systems for the operating room (OR). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two-dimensional (2D) and 3D visualization on surgical skills and task performance. Methods: In this study, 34 individuals with varying laparoscopic experience (18 inexperienced individuals) performed three tasks to test spatial relationships, grasping and positioning, dexterity, precision, and hand-eye and hand-hand coordination. Each task was performed in 3D using binocular vision for open performance, the Viking 3Di Vision System for laparoscopic performance, and the DaVinci robotic system. The same tasks were repeated in 2D using an eye patch for monocular vision, conventional laparoscopy, and the DaVinci robotic system. Results: Loss of 3D vision significantly increased the perceived difficulty of a task and the time required to perform it, independently of the approach (P<0.0001-0.02). Simple tasks took 25% to 30% longer to complete and more complex tasks took 75% longer with 2D than with 3D vision. Only the difficult task was performed faster with the robot than with laparoscopy (P=0.005). In every case, 3D robotic performance was superior to conventional laparoscopy (2D) (P<0.001-0.015). Conclusions: The more complex the task, the more 3D vision accelerates task completion compared with 2D vision. The gain in task performance is independent of the surgical metho

Quantum renormalization group of XYZ model in a transverse magnetic field

We have studied the zero temperature phase diagram of XYZ model in the presence of transverse magnetic field. We show that small anisotropy (0 =< Delta <1) is not relevant to change the universality class. The phase diagram consists of two antiferromagnetic ordering and a paramagnetic phases. We have obtained the critical exponents, fixed points and running of coupling constants by implementing the standard quantum renormalization group. The continuous phase transition from antiferromagnetic (spin-flop) phase to a paramagnetic one is in the universality class of Ising model in transverse field. Numerical exact diagonalization has been done to justify our results. We have also addressed on the application of our findings to the recent experiments on Cs_2CoCl_4.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, new references added to the present versio

Gap generation in the XXZ model in a transverse magnetic field

The ground state phase diagram of the 1D XXZ model in transverse magnetic field is obtained. It consists of the gapped phases with different types of long range order (LRO) and critical lines at which the gap and the LRO vanish. Using scaling estimations and a mean-field approach as well as numerical results we found critical indices of the gap and the LRO in the vicinity of all critical lines.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, Late

EEG synchronization measures are early outcome predictors in comatose patients after cardiac arrest.

Outcome prognostication in comatose patients after cardiac arrest (CA) remains a major challenge. Here we investigated the prognostic value of combinations of linear and non-linear bivariate EEG synchronization measures. 94 comatose patients with EEG within 24h after CA were included. Clinical outcome was assessed at 3months using the Cerebral Performance Categories (CPC). EEG synchronization between the left and right parasagittal, and between the frontal and parietal brain regions was assessed with 4 different quantitative measures (delta power asymmetry, cross-correlation, mutual information, and transfer entropy). 2/3 of patients were used to assess the predictive power of all possible combinations of these eight features (4 measures×2 directions) using cross-validation. The predictive power of the best combination was tested on the remaining 1/3 of patients. The best combination for prognostication consisted of 4 of the 8 features, and contained linear and non-linear measures. Predictive power for poor outcome (CPC 3-5), measured with the area under the ROC curve, was 0.84 during cross-validation, and 0.81 on the test set. At specificity of 1.0 the sensitivity was 0.54, and the accuracy 0.81. Combinations of EEG synchronization measures can contribute to early prognostication after CA. In particular, combining linear and non-linear measures is important for good predictive power. Quantitative methods might increase the prognostic yield of currently used multi-modal approaches

Minimal clinical datasets for spine-related musculoskeletal disorders in primary and outpatient care settings: a scoping review

OBJECTIVES Effective measurement and monitoring of health status in patients with spine-related musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders are essential for providing appropriate care and improving outcomes. Minimal clinical datasets are standardized sets of key data elements and patient-centered outcomes that can be measured and recorded during routine clinical care. Our scoping review aimed to identify and map current evidence on minimal clinical datasets for measuring and monitoring health status in patients with spine-related MSK disorders in primary and outpatient healthcare settings. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING We followed the JBI (formerly Joanna Briggs Institute) methodology for scoping reviews. MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Index to Chiropractic Literature, MANTIS, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and medRxiv preprint repository were searched from database inception to August 1, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, full-text articles, and charted the evidence. Findings were synthesized and summarized descriptively. RESULTS After screening 5,583 citations and 301 full-text articles, 104 studies about 32 individual minimal clinical datasets were included. Most minimal clinical datasets were developed for patient populations with spine-involving inflammatory arthritis, nonspecific or degenerative spinal pain, and MSK disorders in general. The minimal clinical datasets varied substantially in terms of the author-reported time-to-complete (1-48 minutes) and the number of items (5-100 items). Fifty percent of the datasets involved healthcare professionals in their development process, and only 28% involved patients. Health domain items were most frequently linked to the components of activities and participation (43.9%) and body functions (28.6%), according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. There is no standardized definition of minimal clinical datasets to measure and monitor health status of patients with spine-related MSK disorders in routine clinical practice. Common core elements identified were practicality, feasibility in a busy routine practice, time efficiency, and the capability to be used across different healthcare settings. CONCLUSION Due to the absence of a standard definition for minimal clinical datasets for patients with spine-related MSK disorders, there is a lack of consistency in the selection of key data elements and patient-centered outcomes that should be included. More research on the implementation and feasibility of minimal clinical datasets in routine care settings is warranted and needed. It is essential to involve all relevant partners in the development process of minimal clinical datasets to ensure successful implementation and adoption in routine primary care