431 research outputs found
The Chandra Dust Scattering Halo of Galactic Center transient Swift J174540.7-290015
We report the detection of a dust scattering halo around a recently
discovered X-ray transient, Swift J174540.7-290015, which in early February of
2016 underwent one of the brightest outbursts (F_X ~ 5e-10 erg/cm^2/s) observed
from a compact object in the Galactic Center field. We analyze four Chandra
images that were taken as follow-up observations to Swift discoveries of new
Galactic Center transients. After adjusting our spectral extraction for the
effects of detector pileup, we construct a point spread function for each
observation and compare it to the GC field before the outburst. We find
residual surface brightness around Swift J174540.7-290015, which has a shape
and temporal evolution consistent with the behavior expected from X-rays
scattered by foreground dust. We examine the spectral properties of the source,
which shows evidence that the object transitioned from a soft to hard spectral
state as it faded below L_X ~ 1e36 erg/s. This behavior is consistent with the
hypothesis that the object is a low mass X-ray binary in the Galactic Center.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
Evaluating the impact of trigeminal neuralgia
Patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) were categorised into 3 subtypes (n 5 225). Group 1 (n 5 155, 68.9%) had TN
without concomitant pain, group 2 (n532, 14.2%) had TN with intermittent concomitant pain, and group 3 (n539, 16.9%) had TN
with autonomic symptoms. We tested 2 hypotheses: (1) that different pain profiles would be associated with the different groups; (2)
that the severe pain associated with TN would impact negatively on activities of daily living and thereby result in disability as defined
by the World Health Organisation. A different pain profile was found across the groups. We obtained unequivocal evidence that TN
causes disability with up to 45% of patients being absent from usual daily activities 15 days or more in the past 6 months. On the
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, 35.7% patients had mild-to-severe depression and over 50% were anxious. The Pain
Catastrophizing Scale showed that 78% of patients had considerable negative thoughts with scores.20 and a mean score of 36.4.
Prior to referral, only 54% had been prescribed carbamazepine while opioids had been prescribed in 14.6% of the patients. Prior to
referral, over 80% had already been to 1 specialist centre which had not provided appropriate management. Patients with TN report
varied characteristics but all result in some degree of psychosocial disability especially before adequate therapy is attained
A System in the Wild: Deploying a Two Player Arm Rehabilitation System for Children With Cerebral Palsy in a School Environment
This paper outlines a system for arm rehabilitation for children with upper-limb hemiplegia resulting from cerebral palsy. Our research team designed a two-player, interactive (competitive or collaborative) computer play therapy system that provided powered assistance to children while they played specially designed games that promoted arm exercises. We designed the system for a school environment. To assess the feasibility of deploying the system in a school environment, the research team enlisted the help of teachers and staff in nine schools. Once the system was set up, it was used to deliver therapy without supervision from the research team. Ultimately, the system was found to be suitable for use in schools. However, the overriding need for schools to focus on academic activities meant that children could not use the system enough to achieve the amount of use desired for therapeutic benefit. In this paper, we identify the key challenges encountered during this study. For example, there was a marked reluctance to report system issues (which could have been fixed) that prevented children from using the system. We also discuss future implications of deploying similar studies with this type of system
Cognitive and sensorimotor function in participants being treated for trigeminal neuralgia pain
Background
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is an orofacial condition defined by reoccurring, spontaneous, short-lived but excruciating stabbing pain. Pharmacological interventions constitute the first-line treatment for TN, with antiepileptic drugs commonly prescribed. People treated for TN pain with antiepileptic drugs describe cognitive and motor difficulties affecting activities of daily living, and report poorer quality of life. We undertook the first comprehensive objective evaluation of sensorimotor and cognitive performance in participants being treated for TN pain with antiepileptic drugs relative to age-matched controls.
Methods
Participants (43 TN, 41 control) completed a battery of sensorimotor (steering, aiming and tracking) and cognitive (working memory, processing speed, inhibition) tasks.
Results
The TN group performed significantly worse than controls on the sensorimotor tracking and aiming tasks and across all cognitive measures.
Conclusions
The data explain why patients treated with antiepileptic drugs report impairment when conducting activities of daily living (given the need for cognitive and motor capability within most of these). The study is an important first step in: (i) ensuring there is adequate information on the impact of pharmacological treatment; (ii) identifying measures to determine optimal medication dosage and track change over time; (iii) creating an evidence base that could allow scientific justification of alternative pain treatment options for TN (e.g. the costs/benefits of surgery)
Cognitive and sensorimotor function in participants being treated for trigeminal neuralgia pain
Background
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is an orofacial condition defined by reoccurring, spontaneous, short-lived but excruciating stabbing pain. Pharmacological interventions constitute the first-line treatment for TN, with antiepileptic drugs commonly prescribed. People treated for TN pain with antiepileptic drugs describe cognitive and motor difficulties affecting activities of daily living, and report poorer quality of life. We undertook the first comprehensive objective evaluation of sensorimotor and cognitive performance in participants being treated for TN pain with antiepileptic drugs relative to age-matched controls.
Methods
Participants (43 TN, 41 control) completed a battery of sensorimotor (steering, aiming and tracking) and cognitive (working memory, processing speed, inhibition) tasks.
Results
The TN group performed significantly worse than controls on the sensorimotor tracking and aiming tasks and across all cognitive measures.
Conclusions
The data explain why patients treated with antiepileptic drugs report impairment when conducting activities of daily living (given the need for cognitive and motor capability within most of these). The study is an important first step in: (i) ensuring there is adequate information on the impact of pharmacological treatment; (ii) identifying measures to determine optimal medication dosage and track change over time; (iii) creating an evidence base that could allow scientific justification of alternative pain treatment options for TN (e.g. the costs/benefits of surgery)
Profile and width of rough interfaces
In the context of Landau theory and its field theoretical refinements,
interfaces between coexisting phases are described by intrinsic profiles. These
intrinsic interface profiles, however, are neither directly accessible by
experiment nor by computer simulation as they are broadened by long-wavelength
capillary waves. In this paper we study the separation of the small scale
intrinsic structure from the large scale capillary wave fluctuations in the
Monte Carlo simulated three-dimensional Ising model. To this purpose, a
blocking procedure is applied, using the block size as a variable cutoff, and a
translationally invariant method to determine the interface position of
strongly fluctuating profiles on small length scales is introduced. While the
capillary wave picture is confirmed on large length scales and its limit of
validity is estimated, an intrinsic regime is, contrary to expectations, not
observed.Comment: 18 pages, 4 Postscript figures, LaTeX2e, formulation of sec.3.2
improved, 1 reference adde
Capturing differences in dental training using a virtual reality simulator
Virtual reality simulators are becoming increasingly popular in dental schools across the world. But to what extent do these systems reflect actual dental ability? Addressing this question of construct validity is a fundamental step that is necessary before these systems can be fully integrated into a dental school's curriculum. In this study, we examined the sensitivity of the Simodont (a haptic virtual reality dental simulator) to differences in dental training experience. Two hundred and eighty-nine participants, with 1 (n = 92), 3 (n = 79), 4 (n = 57) and 5 (n = 61) years of dental training, performed a series of tasks upon their first exposure to the simulator. We found statistically significant differences between novice (Year 1) and experienced dental trainees (operationalised as 3 or more years of training), but no differences between performance of experienced trainees with varying levels of experience. This work represents a crucial first step in understanding the value of haptic virtual reality simulators in dental education
Supporting movement skills to improve health and education in the population
Six to 17% of children have a hidden physical disability (movement skill deficit) that impedes their progress in school (e.g., resulting in handwriting problems). The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation, particularly in disadvantaged communities. Movement skill deficits decrease educational attainment and increase the risk of poor physical and mental health. We have developed free assessment and treatment tools that allow these conditions to be effectively tackled in schools, reducing the burden to the NHS, but schools need to be empowered to use them
A Numerical Transfer-Matrix Study of Surface-Tension Anisotropy in Ising Models on Square and Cubic Lattices
We compute by numerical transfer-matrix methods the surface free energy
the surface stiffness coefficient and the single-step
free energy for Ising ferromagnets with
square-lattice and cubic-lattice geometries, into
which an interface is introduced by imposing antiperiodic or plus/minus
boundary conditions in one transverse direction. These quantities occur in
expansions of the angle-dependent surface tension, either for rough or for
smooth interfaces. The finite-size scaling behavior of the interfacial
correlation length provides the means of investigating and
The resulting transfer-matrix estimates are fully consistent with previous
series and Monte Carlo studies, although current computational technology does
not permit transfer-matrix studies of sufficiently large systems to show
quantitative improvement over the previous estimates.Comment: 40 pages, 17 figures available on request. RevTeX version 2.
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