429 research outputs found
LC-Circuit Calorimetry
We present a new type of calorimeter in which we couple an unknown heat
capacity with the aid of Peltier elements to an electrical circuit. The use of
an electrical inductance and an amplifier in the circuit allows us to achieve
autonomous oscillations, and the measurement of the corresponding resonance
frequency makes it possible to accurately measure the heat capacity with an
intrinsic statistical error that decreases as ~t^{-3/2} with measuring time t,
as opposed to a corresponding error ~t^{-1/2} in the conventional alternating
current (a.c.) method to measure heat capacities. We have built a demonstration
experiment to show the feasibility of the new technique, and we have tested it
on a gadolinium sample at its transition to the ferromagnetic state.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity in the iron-based compound Cs0.8(FeSe0.98)2
We report on muon-spin rotation and relaxation (ÎŒSR), electrical resistivity, magnetization and differential scanning calorimetry measurements performed on a high-quality single crystal of Cs(0.8)(FeSe(0.98))(2). Whereas our transport and magnetization data confirm the bulk character of the superconducting state below T(c)=29.6(2)ââK, the ÎŒSR data indicate that the system is magnetic below T(N)=478.5(3)ââK, where a first-order transition occurs. The first-order character of the magnetic transition is confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry data. Taken all together, these data indicate in Cs(0.8)(FeSe(0.98))(2) a microscopic coexistence between the superconducting phase and a strong magnetic phase. The observed T(N) is the highest reported to date for a magnetic superconductor
Russian Citizens\u27 Trusted Sources of Health Promotion Information
This study examined Russian citizens\u27 trusted sources of health information. A random sample of 906 people, from two villages in St. Petersburg, Russia, responded to a health needs assessment questionnaire. Results suggest that medical professionals and special books, such as informational pamphlets about treating a myriad of illnesses, are significant trusted sources of health information for people in Russia. Further, these data suggest differences between trusted sources of health information exist between villages rather than by gender or age group. This work has implications for health care practitioners in Russia, who are advancing the discipline of family practice, as well as medical professionals in other parts of the world who are attending to the health needs of Russian immigrants
Respiratory difficulty caused by an ectopic brain tissue mass in the neck of a two-month-old baby: a case report
INTRODUCTION:
Neuroglial heterotopia, heterotopic brain tissue, or differentiated neural tissue outside the cranial vault is uncommon, and these anomalies most commonly occur in the nasal cavity.
CASE PRESENTATION:
We report a case of rare pure cystic heterotopic brain tissue in a two-month-old Caucasian baby girl that presented as a large cystic neck mass and was confused with a cystic hygroma. Her mother reported a progressive increase in the size of this swelling and mild respiratory difficulty when the girl was sleeping. A computed tomography scan of the brain and neck showed a large heterogeneous mass extending from the base of the skull to the left submandibular region; a cystic component was also noted. Our patient under went total excision of the cystic mass and prevention of airway obstruction by a left submandibular approach. The final gross pathology diagnosis was heterotopic brain tissue.
CONCLUSIONS:
Pure cystic neck heterotopic brain tissue lesions are very uncommon, and a preoperative diagnosis of this lesion is difficult. Brain heterotopia is a rare, benign condition that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the neonatal head and neck mass
Improved prediction of mortality by combinations of inflammatory markers and standard clinical scores in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure and acute decompensation
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) as a sinister prognosis and there is a need for accurate biomarkers and scoring systems to better characterize ACLF patients and predict prognosis. Systemic inflammation and renal failure are hallmarks in ACLF disease development and progression. We hypothesized that the combination of specific inflammatory markers in combination with clinical scores are better predictors of survival than the originally developed CLIF-C acute decompensation (AD) and CLIF-C ACLF scores. METHODS: We re-evaluated all previously measured inflammatory markers in 522 patients from the CANONIC study, 342 without and 180 with ACLF. We used the Harrell's C-index to determine the best marker alone or in combination with the original scores and calculated new scores for prediction of mortality in the original CANONIC cohort. RESULTS: The best markers to predict 90-day mortality in patients without ACLF were the plasma macrophage activation markers soluble (s)CD163 and mannose receptor (sMR). Urinary neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (UNGAL) and sCD163 were predictors for 28-day mortality in patients with ACLF. The new developed CLIF-C AD+sMR score in patients without ACLF improved 90-days mortality prediction compared to the original CLIF-C AD score (C-index 0.82(0.78-0.86) vs. 0.74(0.70-0.78, P=0.004). Further, the new CLIF-C ACLF+sCD163+UNGAL improved the original CLIF-C ACLF score for 28-days mortality (0.85(0.79-0.91) vs. 0.75(0.70-0.80), P=0.039). CONCLUSIONS: The capability of these inflammatory markers to improve the original prognostic scores in cirrhosis patients without and with ACLF points to a key role of macrophage activation and inflammation in the development and progression of AD and ACLF
HCI at the boundary of work and life
The idea behind this Special Issue originates in a workshop on HCI and CSCW research related to work and non-work-life balance organized in conjunction with the ECSCW 2013 conference by the issue co-editors. Fifteen papers were originally submitted for possible inclusion in this Special Issue, and four papers were finally accepted for publication after two rounds of rigorous peer review. The four accepted papers explore, in different ways, HCI at the boundary of work and life. In this editorial, we offer a description of the overall theme and rationale for the Special Issue, including an introduction on the topic relevance and background, and a reflection on how the four accepted papers further current research and debate on the topic
Association of Common Variants in TNFRSF13B, TNFSF13, and ANXA3 with Serum Levels of Non-Albumin Protein and Immunoglobulin Isotypes in Japanese
We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on levels of serum total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and non-albumin protein (NAP). We analyzed SNPs on autosomal chromosomes using data from 9,103 Japanese individuals, followed by a replication study of 1,600 additional individuals. We confirmed the previously- reported association of GCKR on chromosome 2p23.3 with serum ALB (rs1260326, Pmetaâ=â3.1Ă10â9), and additionally identified the significant genome-wide association of rs4985726 in TNFRSF13B on 17p11.2 with both TP and NAP (Pmetaâ=â1.2Ă10â14 and 7.1Ă10â24, respectively). For NAP, rs3803800 and rs11552708 in TNFSF13 on 17p13.1 (Pmetaâ=â7.2Ă10â15 and 7.5Ă10â10, respectively) as well as rs10007186 on 4q21.2 near ANXA3 (Pmetaâ=â1.3Ă10â9) also indicated significant associations. Interestingly, TNFRSF13B and TNFSF13 encode a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor and its ligand, which together constitute an important receptor-ligand axis for B-cell homeostasis and immunoglobulin production. Furthermore, three SNPs, rs4985726, rs3803800, and rs11552708 in TNFRSF13B and TNFSF13, were indicated to be associated with serum levels of IgG (P<2.3Ă10â3) and IgM (P<0.018), while rs3803800 and rs11552708 were associated with IgA (P<0.013). Rs10007186 in 4q21.2 was associated with serum levels of IgA (Pâ=â0.036), IgM (Pâ=â0.019), and IgE (Pâ=â4.9Ă10â4). Our results should add interesting knowledge about the regulation of major serum components
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