948 research outputs found
Inconsistency in Fermi's probability of the quantum states
We point out an important hidden inconsistency in Fermi's probability of the
quantum states that engendered inconsistent/inaccurate equations-of-state
extensively used in the literature to model nonideal plasma systems. The
importance of this amendment goes beyond rectifying our comprehension and
foundation of an important physical problem to influencing contemporary
research results.Comment: Accepted for Publicatio
Maternal Influenza Infection During Pregnancy Impacts Postnatal Brain Development in the Rhesus Monkey
Background: Maternal infection with influenza and other pathogens during pregnancy has been associated with increased risk for schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders. In rodent studies, maternal inflammatory responses to influenza affect fetal brain development. However, to verify the relevance of these findings to humans, research is needed in a primate species with more advanced prenatal corticogenesis. Methods: Twelve pregnant rhesus monkeys were infected with influenza, A/Sydney/5/97 (H3N2), 1 month before term (early third trimester) and compared with 7 control pregnancies. Nasal swabs and blood samples confirmed viral shedding and immune activation. Structural magnetic resonance imaging was conducted at 1 year; behavioral development and cortisol reactivity were also assessed. Results: Maternal infections were mild and self-limiting. At birth, maternally derived influenza-specific immunoglobulin G was present in the neonate, but there was no evidence of direct viral exposure. Birth weight and gestation length were not affected, nor were infant neuromotor, behavioral, and endocrine responses. However, magnetic resonance imaging analyses revealed significant reductions in cortical gray matter in flu-exposed animals. Regional analyses indicated the largest gray matter reductions occurred bilaterally in cingulate and parietal areas; white matter was also reduced significantly in the parietal lobe. Conclusions: Influenza infection during pregnancy affects neural development in the monkey, reducing gray matter throughout most of the cortex and decreasing white matter in parietal cortex. These brain alterations are likely to be permanent, given that they were still present at the monkey-equivalent of older childhood and thus might increase the likelihood of later behavioral pathology
Exploring Large Digital Library Collections Using a Map-Based Visualisation
In this paper we describe a novel approach for exploring large document collections using a map-based visualisation. We use hierarchically structured semantic concepts that are attached to the documents to create a visualisation of the semantic space that resembles a Google Map. The approach is novel in that we exploit the hierarchical structure to enable the approach to scale to large document collections and to create a map where the higher levels of spatial abstraction have semantic meaning. An informal evaluation is carried out to gather subjective feedback from users. Overall results are positive with users finding the visualisation enticing and easy to use
Low energy fast events from radon progenies at the surface of a CsI(Tl) scintillator
In searches for rare phenomena such as elastic scattering of dark matter
particles or neutrinoless double beta decay, alpha decays of Rn222 progenies
attached to the surfaces of the detection material have been identified as a
serious source of background. In measurements with CsI(Tl) scintillator
crystals, we demonstrate that alpha decays of surface contaminants produce fast
signals with a characteristic mean-time distribution that is distinct from
those of neutron- and gamma-induced events.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure
Multi-Site Observations of the DAV White Dwarf R 548
The pulsating DA white dwarf R 548 was observed for 46 h in October 1993 in an eight-site campaign. New peaks near the known doublets in the Fourier transform are found
Measurements of decays into Vector- Tensor final states
Decays of the into vector plus tensor meson final states have been
studied with 14 million events collected with the BESII detector.
Branching fractions of \psi(2S) \rt \omega f_{2}(1270), ,
and are
determined. They improve upon previous BESI results and confirm the violation
of the "12%" rule for decays to VT channels with higher precision.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures and 2 table
Study protocol: Our Cultures Count, the Mayi Kuwayu Study, a national longitudinal study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing
IntroductionAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are Australia's first peoples and have been connected to the land for â„65â000 years. Their enduring cultures and values are considered critical to health and wellbeing, alongside physical, psychological and social factors. We currently lack large-scale data that adequately represent the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; the absence of evidence on cultural practice and expression is particularly striking, given its foundational importance to wellbeing.Method and analysisMayi Kuwayu: The National Study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing (Mayi Kuwayu Study) will be a large-scale, national longitudinal study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, with linkage to health-related administrative records. The baseline survey was developed through extensive community consultation, and includes items on: cultural practice and expression, sociodemographic factors, health and wellbeing, health behaviours, experiences and environments, and family support and connection. The baseline survey will be mailed to 200 000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults (â„16 years), yielding an estimated 16â000-40â000 participants, supplemented through face-to-face recruitment. Follow-up surveys will be conducted every 3-5 years, or as funding allows. The Mayi Kuwayu Study will contribute to filling key evidence gaps, including quantifying the contribution of cultural factors to wellbeing, alongside standard elements of health and risk.Ethics and disseminationThis study has received approval from national Human Research Ethics Committees, and from State and Territory committees, including relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations. The study was developed and is conducted in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations across states and territories. It will provide an enduring and shared infrastructure to underpin programme and policy development, based on measures and values important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Approved researchers can access confidentialised data and disseminate findings according to study data access and governance protocols.Roxanne Jones, Katherine A Thurber, Jan Chapman, Catherine D, Este, Terry Dunbar, Mark Wenitong, Sandra J Eades, Lisa Strelein, Maureen Davey, Wei Du, Anna Olsen, Janet K Smylie, Emily Banks, Raymond Lovett, on behalf of the Mayi Kuwayu Study Tea
Health literacy and long-term health outcomes following myocardial infarction: protocol for a multicentre, prospective cohort study (ENHEARTEN study)
Introduction: Low health literacy is common in people with cardiovascular disease and may be one factor that affects an individualâs ability to maintain secondary prevention health behaviours following myocardial infarction (MI). However, little is known about the association between health literacy and longer-term health outcomes in people with MI. The ENhancing HEAlth literacy in secondary pRevenTion of cardiac evENts (ENHEARTEN) study aims to examine the relationship between health literacy and a number of health outcomes (including healthcare costs) in a cohort of patients following their first MI. Findings may provide evidence for the significance of health literacy as a predictor of long-term cardiac outcomes. Methods and analysis: ENHEARTEN is a multicentre, prospective observational study in a convenience sample of adults (aged >18 years) with their first MI. A total of 450 patients will be recruited over 2 years across two metropolitan health services and one rural/regional health service in Victoria, Australia. The primary outcome of this study will be all-cause, unplanned hospital admissions within 6 months of index admission. Secondary outcomes include cardiac-related hospital admissions up to 24 months post-MI, emergency department presentations, health-related quality of life, mortality, cardiac rehabilitation attendance and healthcare costs. Health literacy will be observed as a predictor variable and will be determined using the 12-item version of the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-Q12). Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval for this study has been received from the relevant human research ethics committee (HREC) at each of the participating health services (lead site Monash Health HREC; approval number: RES-21- 0000- 242A) and Services Australia HREC (reference number: RMS1672). Informed written consent will be sought from all participants. Study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and collated in reports for participating health services and participants. Trial registration number: ACTRN12621001224819.Alison Beauchamp, Jason Talevski, Stephen J Nicholls, Anna Wong Shee, Catherine Martin, William Van Gaal, Ernesto Oqueli, Jaithri Ananthapavan, Laveena Sharma, Adrienne O, Neil, Sharon Lee Brennan-Olsen, Rebecca Leigh Jessu
Measurement of Branching Fractions and Charge Asymmetries for Two-Body B Meson Decays with Charmonium
We report branching fractions and charge asymmetries for exclusive decays of
charged and neutral B mesons to two-body final states containing a charmonium
meson, J/psi or psi(2S). This result is based on a 29.4 fb^{-1} data sample
collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB
asymmetric e+e- collider.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, revte
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