Analysis of fragment yield ratios in the nuclear phase transition

The critical phenomena of the liquid-gas phase transition has been investigated in the reactions 78,86Kr+58,64Ni at beam energy of 35 MeV/nucleon using the Landau free energy approach with isospin asymmetry as an order parameter. Fits to the free energy of fragments showed three minima suggesting the system to be in the regime of a first order phase transition. The relation m =-{\partial}F/{\partial}H, which defines the order parameter and its conjugate field H, has been experimentally verified from the linear dependence of the mirror nuclei yield ratio data, on the isospin asymmetry of the source. The slope parameter, which is a measure of the distance from a critical temperature, showed a systematic decrease with increasing excitation energy of the source. Within the framework of the Landau free energy approach, isoscaling provided similar results as obtained from the analysis of mirror nuclei yield ratio data. We show that the external field is primarily related to the minimum of the free energy, which implies a modification of the source concentration \Delta used in isospin studies

Nuclear expansion and symmetry energy of hot nuclei

The decrease in the symmetry energy of hot nuclei populated in $^{58}$Ni + $^{58}$Ni, $^{58}$Fe + $^{58}$Ni and $^{58}$Fe + $^{58}$Fe reactions at beam energies of 30, 40, and 47 MeV/nucleon, as a function of excitation energy is studied. It is observed that this decrease is mainly a consequence of increasing expansion or decreasing density rather than the increasing temperature. The results are in good agreement with the recently reported microscopic calculation based on the Thomas-Fermi approach. An empirical relation to study the symmetry energy of finite nuclei in various mass region is proposed.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

Proton induced reaction cross section measurements on Se isotopes for the astrophysical p process

As a continuation of a systematic study of reactions relevant to the astrophysical p process, the cross sections of the 74,76Se(p,gamma)75,77Br and 82Se(p,n)82Br reactions have been measured at energies from 1.3 to 3.6 MeV using an activation technique. The results are compared to the predictions of Hauser-Feshbach statistical model calculations using the NON-SMOKER and MOST codes. The sensitivity of the calculations to variations in the optical proton potential and the nuclear level density was studied. Good agreement between theoretical and experimental reaction rates was found for the reactions 74Se(p,gamma)75Br and 82Se(p,n)82Br.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures (in 12 eps files), accepted for publication in Phys. Rev C, RevTeX styl

Similar success rate in proximal and distal colonic stent placement: a retrospective multi-center study

Objectives: Stenting of malignant colon obstruction is used as a bridge to surgery or as an alternativeto surgical colostomy in a palliative setting. Current guidelines recommend stent placement as the firstline of treatment in colonic obstruction in both curative and palliative settings. However, it is unclearwhether the location of the malignant obstruction influences the outcome of the stenting procedure.The goal of this study was to compare the outcomes of colonic stents between proximal and distal colonic strictures with regard to technical and clinical success and the risk of adverse events. Methods: A multi-center retrospective cohort was composed of patients who underwent a colonic stent placement at two tertiary hospitals between 2013 and 2021. The technical and clinical outcome, stent type used, duration of post-procedural hospital stay and complications were noted. Results: A total of 148 patients who underwent colonic stenting were identified. 41 patients underwent stent placement in the proximal colon and 107 patients underwent a distal stent placement. There was no difference in technical success (100% vs 96.3%, p = 0.209), clinical success (97.0% vs 89.6%, p = 0.199) or complications (24.4% vs 37.4%, p = 0,135) Conclusion: Technical success and clinical success rates are high and do not differ between stentlocations. There is no significant difference in complication rates between proximal and distalcolonic stents.Cellular mechanisms in basic and clinical gastroenterology and hepatolog

Population‐based cohort study of outcomes following cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder diseases

Background The aim was to describe the management of benign gallbladder disease and identify characteristics associated with all‐cause 30‐day readmissions and complications in a prospective population‐based cohort. Methods Data were collected on consecutive patients undergoing cholecystectomy in acute UK and Irish hospitals between 1 March and 1 May 2014. Potential explanatory variables influencing all‐cause 30‐day readmissions and complications were analysed by means of multilevel, multivariable logistic regression modelling using a two‐level hierarchical structure with patients (level 1) nested within hospitals (level 2). Results Data were collected on 8909 patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 167 hospitals. Some 1451 cholecystectomies (16·3 per cent) were performed as an emergency, 4165 (46·8 per cent) as elective operations, and 3293 patients (37·0 per cent) had had at least one previous emergency admission, but had surgery on a delayed basis. The readmission and complication rates at 30 days were 7·1 per cent (633 of 8909) and 10·8 per cent (962 of 8909) respectively. Both readmissions and complications were independently associated with increasing ASA fitness grade, duration of surgery, and increasing numbers of emergency admissions with gallbladder disease before cholecystectomy. No identifiable hospital characteristics were linked to readmissions and complications. Conclusion Readmissions and complications following cholecystectomy are common and associated with patient and disease characteristics

Effect of Stretching on Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain and Pressure Pain Threshold: A Pilot RCT

Non-specific chronic neck pain commonly affects office workers. Previous studies have explored various forms of physical exercise as therapies to alleviate pain and improve function. However, limited research has investigated stretching as an isolated intervention among office workers, with only one study demonstrating promising results. This pilot study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a 4-week static stretching protocol as a standalone treatment for reducing self-reported pain levels and improving pressure pain threshold (PPT) in women experiencing chronic non-specific neck pain. Sixty-six employed women with moderate to severe chronic neck pain were randomly assigned to either the static stretching (SS) or control group (CG). The SS group performed six neck muscle stretching exercises regularly for 4 weeks. Therapeutic effectiveness was evaluated before treatment initiation and at the end of the 4-week treatment period using the 11-point numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and pressure pain threshold (PPT). Significant findings revealed a decrease in PPT in favor of the SS group, indicating reduced pressure pain sensitivity (p=0.013). However, there was no significant difference in NPRS between the two groups at the 4-week assessment (p=0.798). Our findings suggest that static stretching leads to a decrease in PPT but does not influence NPRS in women with chronic non-specific neck pain. Further evaluation of static stretching in a larger population with non-specific chronic neck pain is warranted. Additionally, future studies should investigate the optimal training dosage required to induce physiological and neuromuscular changes potentially linked to decreased neck pain and increased PPT levels.13pubpub

Activation cross section and isomeric cross-section ratio for the (n,2n) reaction on Ir191

Physical Review