Applicability of Quasi-Monte Carlo for lattice systems

This project investigates the applicability of quasi-Monte Carlo methods to Euclidean lattice systems in order to improve the asymptotic error scaling of observables for such theories. The error of an observable calculated by averaging over random observations generated from ordinary Monte Carlo simulations scales like $N^{-1/2}$, where $N$ is the number of observations. By means of quasi-Monte Carlo methods it is possible to improve this scaling for certain problems to $N^{-1}$, or even further if the problems are regular enough. We adapted and applied this approach to simple systems like the quantum harmonic and anharmonic oscillator and verified an improved error scaling of all investigated observables in both cases.Comment: on occasion of the 31st International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory - LATTICE 2013, July 29 - August 3, 2013, Mainz, Germany, 7 Pages, 4 figure

Telemedical Support in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: Experience from Different Projects in Germany

The great epidemiological significance and costs associated with chronic heart failure pose a challenge to health systems in Western industrial countries. In the past few years, controlled randomised studies have shown that patients with chronic heart failure benefit from telemedical monitoring; specifically, telemonitoring of various vital parameters combined with a review of the symptoms, drug compliance and patient education. In Germany, various telemedical monitoring projects for patients with chronic heart failure have been initiated in the past few years; seven of them are presented here. Currently 7220 patients are being monitored in the seven selected projects. Most patients (51.1%) are in NYHA stage II, 26.3% in NYHA stage III, 14.5% in NYHA stage I and only 6.6% in NYHA stage IV respectively. Most projects are primarily regional. Their structure of telemedical monitoring tends to be modular and uses stratification according to the NYHA stages. All projects include medical or health economics assessments. The future of telemedical monitoring projects for patients with chronic heart failure will depend on the outcome of these assessments. Only of there is statistical evidence for medical benefit to the individual patient as well as cost savings will these projects continue

Limiting esophageal temperature in radiofrequency ablation of left atrial tachyarrhythmias results in low incidence of thermal esophageal lesions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Atrio-esophageal fistula formation following radiofrequency ablation of left atrial tachyarrhythmias is a rare but devastating complication. Esophageal injuries are believed to be precursors of fistula formation and reported to occur in up to 47% of patients. This study investigates the incidence of esophageal lesions when real time esophageal temperature monitoring and temperature limitation is used.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>184 consecutive patients underwent open irrigated radiofrequency ablation of left atrial tachyarrhythmias. An esophageal temperature probe consisting of three independent thermocouples was used for temperature monitoring. A temperature limit of 40°C was defined to interrupt energy delivery. All patients underwent esophageal endoscopy the next day.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Endoscopy revealed ulcer formation in 3/184 patients (1.6%). No patient developed atrio-esophageal fistula. Patient and disease characteristics had no influence on ulcer formation. The temperature threshold of 40°C was reached in 157/184 patients. A temperature overshoot after cessation of energy delivery was observed frequently. The mean maximal temperature was 40.8°C. Using a multiple regression analysis creating a box lesion that implies superior- and inferior lines at the posterior wall connecting the right and left encircling was an independent predictor of temperature. Six month follow-up showed an overall success rate of 78% documented as sinus rhythm in seven-day holter ECG.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Limitation of esophageal temperature to 40°C is associated with the lowest incidence of esophageal lesion formation published so far. This approach may contribute to increase the safety profile of radiofrequency ablation in the left atrium.</p

The contribution of insects to global forest deadwood decomposition

The amount of carbon stored in deadwood is equivalent to about 8 per cent of the global forest carbon stocks. The decomposition of deadwood is largely governed by climate with decomposer groups—such as microorganisms and insects—contributing to variations in the decomposition rates. At the global scale, the contribution of insects to the decomposition of deadwood and carbon release remains poorly understood. Here we present a field experiment of wood decomposition across 55 forest sites and 6 continents. We find that the deadwood decomposition rates increase with temperature, and the strongest temperature effect is found at high precipitation levels. Precipitation affects the decomposition rates negatively at low temperatures and positively at high temperatures. As a net effect—including the direct consumption by insects and indirect effects through interactions with microorganisms—insects accelerate the decomposition in tropical forests (3.9% median mass loss per year). In temperate and boreal forests, we find weak positive and negative effects with a median mass loss of 0.9 per cent and −0.1 per cent per year, respectively. Furthermore, we apply the experimentally derived decomposition function to a global map of deadwood carbon synthesized from empirical and remote-sensing data, obtaining an estimate of 10.9 ± 3.2 petagram of carbon per year released from deadwood globally, with 93 per cent originating from tropical forests. Globally, the net effect of insects may account for 29 per cent of the carbon flux from deadwood, which suggests a functional importance of insects in the decomposition of deadwood and the carbon cycle

Painful bladder syndrome: management and effect on sexual function and quality of life

Primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of our therapeutical management in patients with painful bladder syndrome (PBS)/interstitial cystitis (IC) on sexual function, quality of life and bladder symptoms using validated tools prospectivel

Zespół bolesnego pęcherza moczowego: leczenie i wpływ na funkcje seksualne oraz jakość życia

Abstract Objectives: Primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of our therapeutical management in patients with painful bladder syndrome (PBS) / interstitial cystitis (IC) on sexual function, quality of life and bladder symptoms using validated tools prospectively. Material and Methods: A prospective case controlled study. The setting is a tertial referral centre. We included 69 patients with PBS/ IC according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) into this study. All patients were managed applying determined therapeutical steps including tetracycline, bladder instillation consisting of heparine, local anaesthetic and natrium-bicarbonate, prednisolon and antihistaminics or instillation with DMSO. Sexual function, quality of life and symptoms were evaluated with validated tools FSFI, King’s Health Questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: Pain, nocturia, urinary frequency and urgency were significantly reduced The King’s Health questionnaire showed a significant improvement of all domains but emotions and sleep, and FSFI improved significantly in all domains but orgasm. Conclusion: Patients with PBS/IC undergoing defined therapeutical steps including tetracycline, bladder instillation and anti-inflammatory agents improved significantly regarding sexual function, quality of life and symptoms. Long term follow-up has to prove this management as well as profound research on the unknown aetiology have to been done to determine even more efficient therapeutical regimes.Streszczenie Cel pracy: Podstawowym celem badania była ocena wpływu leczenia farmakologicznego, u pacjentek z zespołem bolesnego pęcherza moczowego (PBS - painful bladder syndrome) i środmiąższowym zapaleniem pęcherza (IC - interstitial cystitis), na funkcje seksualne, jakość życia i objawy bolowe i dyzuryczne pęcherza moczowego przy użyciu walidowanych kwestionariuszy. Materiał i metodyka: Prospektywne badanie porównawcze wykonanano w szpitalu o trzecim poziomie referencyjności. Do badania włączono 69 pacjentek z PBS/IC spełniających kryteria NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Disease). Wszystkie pacjentki leczono farmakologicznie włączając kolejno, w zależności od odpowiedzi klinicznej, tetracykliny, dopęcherzowe podawanie heparyny, lignokainy i dwuwęglanu sodu, prednizolon, leki antyhistaminowe lub DMSO (dwumetylosulfotlenek). Funkcje seksualne, jakość życia i objawy chorobowe oceniono przy pomocy walidowanych kwestionariuszy: FSFI, Kwestionariusza King’s Heath oraz wizualnej analogowej skali wzrokowej (visual analogue scale - VAS). Wyniki: Ból, nokturia, częstotliwość oddawania moczu i parcia naglące były znacząco obniżone. Zgodnie z kwestionariuszem King’s Heath wykazano znaczącą poprawę we wszystkich kategoriach za wyjątkiem emocji i snu, a w FSFI znacząco poprawiły się wszystkie kategorie za wyjątkiem orgazmu. Wnioski: U pacjentek z zespołem bolesnego pęcherza moczowego, u których zastosowano terapie obejmujące kolejno: tetracykliny, leczenie dopęcherzowe i środki przeciwzapalne – wykazano znaczącą poprawę w zakresie funkcji seksualnych, jakości życia oraz ustępowanie objawów bólowych i dyzurycznych. Długoterminowa obserwacja, tak samo jak rozszerzone badania nad nieznaną etiologią, muszą zostać przeprowadzone, aby określić bardziej efektywne modele terapeutyczne

Hot water from cold. The dissociative recombination of water cluster ions

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Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in children : an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study

Introduction Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). However, there is a lack of data available about SSI in children worldwide, especially from low-income and middle-income countries. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of SSI in children and associations between SSI and morbidity across human development settings. Methods A multicentre, international, prospective, validated cohort study of children aged under 16 years undergoing clean-contaminated, contaminated or dirty gastrointestinal surgery. Any hospital in the world providing paediatric surgery was eligible to contribute data between January and July 2016. The primary outcome was the incidence of SSI by 30 days. Relationships between explanatory variables and SSI were examined using multilevel logistic regression. Countries were stratified into high development, middle development and low development groups using the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Results Of 1159 children across 181 hospitals in 51 countries, 523 (45 center dot 1%) children were from high HDI, 397 (34 center dot 2%) from middle HDI and 239 (20 center dot 6%) from low HDI countries. The 30-day SSI rate was 6.3% (33/523) in high HDI, 12 center dot 8% (51/397) in middle HDI and 24 center dot 7% (59/239) in low HDI countries. SSI was associated with higher incidence of 30-day mortality, intervention, organ-space infection and other HAIs, with the highest rates seen in low HDI countries. Median length of stay in patients who had an SSI was longer (7.0 days), compared with 3.0 days in patients who did not have an SSI. Use of laparoscopy was associated with significantly lower SSI rates, even after accounting for HDI. Conclusion The odds of SSI in children is nearly four times greater in low HDI compared with high HDI countries. Policies to reduce SSI should be prioritised as part of the wider global agenda.Peer reviewe