2,278 research outputs found
Characterization of Trypanosoma brucei isolated from lymph nodes of rats
Forms of Trypanosoma brucei isolated from lymph nodes of cyclically or intravenously infected rats, at different stages of infection, were morphologically compared with the corresponding bloodstream forms. Unlike the pleomorphic bloodstream trypanosome population, the lymph node trypanosome population was essentially monomorphic and resembled the slender forms of the bloodstream. Values for the morphometric parameters indicated a position between the slender and the stumpy forms. The number of trypanosomes/ml of blood showed the well-known periodic fluctuations while the number of trypanosomes/g of lymph node remained fairly constant. Serology revealed that lymph node trypanosome populations differed antigenically from the trypanosome populations isolated simultaneously from the bloodstrea
The effects of donepezil in Alzheimer's disease - Results from a multinational trial
Donepezil has been shown to be well tolerated and to improve cognition and global function in patients with mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). The current trial was undertaken to investigate further the efficacy and safety of donepezil, in a multinational setting, in patients with mild to moderately severe AD. This 30-week, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study consisted of a 24-week, double-blind treatment phase followed by a 6-week, single-blind, placebo washout. Eight hundred and eighteen patients with mild to moderately severe AD were randomly allocated to treatment with single, daily doses of 5 or 10 mg donepezil, or placebo. The two primary efficacy measures were: a cognitive performance test, the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and a global evaluation, the Clinician's Interview-Based Impression of Change with caregiver input (CIBIC plus). Secondary outcome measures included the Sum of the Boxes of the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR-SB), a modified Interview for Deterioration in Daily living activities in Dementia (IDDD) and a patient-rated quality of life assessment. Statistically significant improvements in cognitive and global function were observed, as evaluated by ADAS-cog and CIBIC plus, respectively, in both the 5 and 10 mg/day donepezil groups, compared with placebo. Treatment-associated changes were also observed in functional skills, as shown by improved scores on the CDR-SB and the complex-tasks component of the IDDD. A dose-response effect was evident, with the 10 mg/day donepezil group demonstrating greater benefits in all outcome measures than the 5 mg/day group. Donepezil was well tolerated by this patient population and did not produce any clinically significant laboratory test abnormalities. The results of this study confirm that donepezil is effective and well tolerated in treating the symptoms of mild to moderately severe AD
Long Distance Transport of Ultracold Atoms using a 1D optical lattice
We study the horizontal transport of ultracold atoms over macroscopic
distances of up to 20 cm with a moving 1D optical lattice. By using an optical
Bessel beam to form the optical lattice, we can achieve nearly homogeneous
trapping conditions over the full transport length, which is crucial in order
to hold the atoms against gravity for such a wide range. Fast transport
velocities of up to 6 m/s (corresponding to about 1100 photon recoils) and
accelerations of up to 2600 m/s2 are reached. Even at high velocities the
momentum of the atoms is precisely defined with an uncertainty of less than one
photon recoil. This allows for construction of an atom catapult with high
kinetic energy resolution, which might have applications in novel collision
experiments.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure
Speech Communication
Contains reports on six research projects.U. S. Air Force Command and Control Development Division under Contract AF19(604)-6102National Science Foundatio
Speech Communication
Contains research objectives and reports on two research projects.U.S. Air Force (Electronic Systems Division) under Contract AF19(604)-6102National Science Foundation (Grant G-10800)National Science Foundation (Grant G-7364)National Science Foundation (Grant G-16526)National Institutes of Health (Grant MP-4737
Fractal Conductance Fluctuations in Gold--Nanowires
A detailed analysis of magneto-conductance fluctuations of quasiballistic
gold-nanowires of various lengths is presented. We find that the variance
when analyzed for much
smaller than the correlation field varies according to with indicating that the graph of
vs. is fractal. We attribute this behavior to the existence of
long-lived states arising from chaotic trajectories trapped close to regular
classical orbits. We find that decreases with increasing length of the
wires.Comment: 5 pages, Revtex with epsf, 4 Postscript figures, final version
accepted as Phys. Rev. Let
Conductance fluctuations in mesoscopic normal-metal/superconductor samples
We study the magnetoconductance fluctuations of mesoscopic
normal-metal/superconductor (NS) samples consisting of a gold-wire in contact
with a niobium film. The magnetic field strength is varied over a wide range,
including values that are larger than the upper critical field B_c2 of niobium.
In agreement with recent theoretical predictions we find that in the NS sample
the rms of the conductance fluctuations (CF) is by a factor of 2.8 +/- 0.4
larger than in the high field regime where the entire system is driven normal
conducting. Further characteristics of the CF are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, REVTEX, 3 eps-figures included. To be published in Phys.
Rev. Lett.. Changes: one misplaced figure correcte
Patient engagement with antibiotic messaging in secondary care: a qualitative feasibility study of the ‘review & revise’ experience
Background: We aimed to investigate and optimise the acceptability and usefulness of a patient leaflet about antibiotic prescribing decisions made during hospitalisation, and to explore individual patient experiences and preferences regarding the process of antibiotic prescription ‘review & revise’ which is a key strategy to minimise antibiotic overuse in hospitals.
Methods: In this qualitative study, run within the feasibility study of a large, cluster-randomised stepped wedge trial of 36 hospital organisations, a series of semi-structured, think-aloud telephone interviews were conducted and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Fifteen adult patients who had experienced a recent acute medical hospital admission during which they had been prescribed antimicrobials and offered a patient leaflet about antibiotic prescribing were recruited to the study.
Results: Participants reacted positively to the leaflet, reporting that it was both an accessible and important source of information which struck the appropriate balance between informing and reassuring. Participants all valued open communication with clinicians, and were keen to be involved in antibiotic prescribing decisions, with individuals reporting positive experiences regarding antibiotic prescription changes or stopping. Many participants had prior experience or knowledge of antibiotics and resistance, and generally welcomed efforts to reduce antibiotic usage. Overall, there was a feeling that healthcare professionals (HCPs) are trusted experts providing the most appropriate treatment for individual patient conditions.
Conclusions: This study offers novel insights into how patients within secondary care are likely to respond to messages advocating a reduction in the use of antibiotics through the ‘review & revise’ approach. Due to the level of trust that patients place in their care provider, encouraging HCPs within secondary care to engage patients with greater communication and information provision could provide great advantages in the drive to reduce antibiotic use. It may also be beneficial for HCPs to view patient experiences as cumulative events that have the potential to impact future behaviour around antibiotic use. Finally, pre-testing messages about antibiotic prescribing and resistance is vital to dispelling any misconceptions either around effectiveness of treatment for patients, or perceptions of how messages may be received
Attractively bound pairs of atoms in the Bose-Hubbard model and antiferromagnetism
We consider a periodic lattice loaded with pairs of bosonic atoms tightly
bound to each other via strong attractive on-site interaction that exceeds the
inter-site tunneling rate. An ensemble of such lattice-dimers is accurately
described by an effective Hamiltonian of hard core bosons with strong
nearest-neighbor repulsion which is equivalent to the model with
Ising-like anisotropy. We calculate the ground-state phase diagram for a
one-dimensional system which exhibits incompressible phases, corresponding to
an empty and a fully filled lattice (ferromagnetic phases) and a half-filled
alternating density crystal (anti-ferromagnetic phase), separated from each
other by compressible phases. In a finite lattice the compressible phases show
characteristic oscillatory modulations on top of the anti-ferromagnetic density
profile and in density-density correlations. We derive a kink model which
provides simple quantitative explanation of these features. To describe the
long-range correlations of the system we employ the Luttinger liquid theory
with the relevant Luttinger parameter obtained exactly using the Bethe
Ansatz solution. We calculate the density-density as well as first-order
correlations and find excellent agreement with numerical results obtained with
density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) methods. We also present a
perturbative treatment of the system in higher dimensions.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure
Speech Communication
Contains research objectives and reports on three research projects.U.S. Air Force (Air Force Cambridge Research Center, Air Research and Development Command) under Contract AF19(604)-6102National Science Foundatio
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