17,588 research outputs found
The SUMMIT trial: a field comparison of buprenorphine versus methadone maintenance treatment.
This prospective patient-preference study examined the effectiveness in practice of methadone versus buprenorphine maintenance treatment and the beliefs of subjects regarding these drugs. A total of 361 opiate-dependent individuals (89% of those eligible, presenting for treatment over 2 years at a drug service in England) received rapid titration then flexible dosing with methadone or buprenorphine; 227 patients chose methadone (63%) and 134 buprenorphine (37%). Participants choosing methadone had more severe substance abuse and psychiatric and physical problems but were more likely to remain in treatment. Survival analysis indicated those prescribed methadone were over twice as likely to be retained (hazard ratio for retention was 2.08 and 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.49-2.94 for methadone vs. buprenorphine), However, those retained on buprenorphine were more likely to suppress illicit opiate use (odds ratio = 2.136, 95% CI = 1.509-3.027, p < .001) and achieve detoxification. Buprenorphine may also recruit more individuals to treatment because 28% of those choosing buprenorphine (10% of the total sample) stated they would not have accessed treatment with methadone
Detection of a variable ultra-fast outflow in the Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxy PG 1448+273
Relativistically blueshifted absorption features of highly ionised ions, the
so-called ultra-fast outflows (UFOs), have been detected in the X-ray spectra
of a number of accreting supermassive black holes. If these features truly
originate from accretion disc winds accelerated to more than 10 per cent of the
speed of light, their energy budget is very significant and they can contribute
to or even drive galaxy-scale feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGN).
However, the UFO spectral features are often weak due to high ionisation of the
outflowing material, and the inference of the wind physical properties can be
complicated by other spectral features in AGN such as relativistic reflection.
Here we study a highly accreting Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxy PG 1448+273. We
apply an automated, systematic routine for detecting outflows in accreting
systems and achieve an unambiguous detection of a UFO in this AGN. The UFO
absorption is observed in both soft and hard X-ray bands with the XMM-Newton
observatory. The velocity of the outflow is (26900 +- 600) km/s (~0.09c), with
an ionisation parameter of log ({\xi} / erg cm s^-1)=4.03_{-0.08}^{+0.10} and a
column density above 10^23 cm^-2. At the same time, we detect weak warm
absorption features in the spectrum of the object. Our systematic outflow
search suggests the presence of further multi-phase wind structure, but we
cannot claim a significant detection considering the present data quality. The
UFO is not detected in a second, shorter observation with XMM-Newton,
indicating variability in time, observed also in other similar AGN.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 14 pages, 11 figures, 1 tabl
The motion of two masses coupled to a massive spring
We discuss the classical motion of a spring of arbitrary mass coupled to two
arbitrary massive blocks attached at its ends. A general approach to the
problem is presented and some general results are obtained. Examples for which
a simple elastic function can be inferred are discussed and the normal modes
and normal frequencies obtained. An approximation procedure to the evaluation
of the normel frequencies in the case of uniform elastic function and mass
density is also discussed.Comment: Standard Latex file plus three eps figure
Quantum Cosmology in Scalar-Tensor Theories With Non Minimal Coupling
Quantization in the minisuperspace of non minimal scalar-tensor theories
leads to a partial differential equation which is non separable. Through a
conformal transformation we can recast the Wheeler-DeWitt equation in an
integrable form, which corresponds to the minimal coupling case, whose general
solution is known. Performing the inverse conformal transformation in the
solution so found, we can construct the corresponding one in the original
frame. This procedure can also be employed with the bohmian trajectories. In
this way, we can study the classical limit of some solutions of this quantum
model. While the classical limit of these solutions occurs for small scale
factors in the Einstein's frame, it happens for small values of the scalar
field non minimally coupled to gravity in the Jordan's frame, which includes
large scale factors.Comment: latex, 18 page
On the quantumness of correlations in nuclear magnetic resonance
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) was successfully employed to test several
protocols and ideas in Quantum Information Science. In most of these
implementations the existence of entanglement was ruled out. This fact
introduced concerns and questions about the quantum nature of such bench tests.
In this article we address some issues related to the non-classical aspects of
NMR systems. We discuss some experiments where the quantum aspects of this
system are supported by quantum correlations of separable states. Such
quantumness, beyond the entanglement-separability paradigm, is revealed via a
departure between the quantum and the classical versions of information theory.
In this scenario, the concept of quantum discord seems to play an important
role. We also present an experimental implementation of an analogous of the
single-photon Mach-Zehnder interferometer employing two nuclear spins to encode
the interferometric paths. This experiment illustrate how non-classical
correlations of separable states may be used to simulate quantum dynamics. The
results obtained are completely equivalent to the optical scenario, where
entanglement (between two field modes) may be present
Novel types of anti-ecloud surfaces
In high power RF devices for space, secondary electron emission appears as
the main parameter governing the multipactor effect and as well as the e-cloud
in large accelerators. Critical experimental activities included development of
coatings with low secondary electron emission yield (SEY) for steel (large
accelerators) and aluminium (space applications). Coatings with surface
roughness of high aspect ratio producing the so-call secondary emission
suppression effect appear as the selected strategy. In this work a detailed
study of the SEY of these technological coatings and also the experimental
deposition methods (PVD and electrochemical) are presented. The coating-design
approach selected for new low SEY coatings include rough metals (Ag, Au, Al),
rough alloys (NEG), particulated and magnetized surfaces, and also graphene
like coatings. It was found that surface roughness also mitigate the SEY
deterioration due to aging processes.Comment: 4 pages, contribution to the Joint INFN-CERN-EuCARD-AccNet Workshop
on Electron-Cloud Effects: ECLOUD'12; 5-9 Jun 2012, La Biodola, Isola d'Elba,
Italy; CERN Yellow Report CERN-2013-002, pp.153-15
Relativistic spectroscopy of the extreme NLS1 IRAS13224-3809
The narrow line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) IRAS 13224-3809 is the most X-ray variable
active galactic nucleus (AGN), exhibiting 0.3-10 keV flux changes of over an
order of magnitude within an hour. We report on the results of the 1.5 Ms 2016
XMM-Newton/NuSTAR observing campaign, which revealed the presence of a 0.24c
ultra-fast outflow in addition to the well-known strong relativistic
reflection. We also summarise other key results of the campaign, such as the
first detection of a non-linear RMS-flux relation in an accreting source,
correlations between outflow absorption strength/velocity and source flux, and
a disconnect between the X-ray and UV emission. Our results are consistent with
a scenario where a disk wind is launched close to the black hole, imprinting
absorption features into the spectrum and variability.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, contributed talk at "Revisiting narrow-line
Seyfert 1 galaxies and their place in the Universe" (Padova, April 2018).
Accepted for publication in Proceedings of Science, PoS(NLS1-2018)03
Diabetic Choroidopathy: a Review of the Current Literature
Diabetic retinopathy is an increasingly prevalent disease, and a leading contributor to the burden of all-cause blindness worldwide. In addition to retinal changes, choroidal abnormalities are common in patients with diabetes. The first studies concerning this vascular structure were based on histologic, indocyanine angiography and laser Doppler flowmetry techniques, but the development of new optical coherence tomography (OCT) technologies and imaging software for enhanced depth imaging (EDI)-OCT in recent years has made it possible to provide more detailed images of the choroidal anatomy and topography.In diabetic patients, several choroidal changes have been described in the literature throughout the years; the recent focus is choroidal thickness, which is significantly different from that in healthy patients. However, understanding choroidal manifestations of diabetic eye disease remains a real challenge, and this gap is hindering efforts towards better defining choroidal evaluation as a predictive factor for disease evolution and treatment response.This review aims to summarize the recent literature concerning changes in choroidal structure in diabetic patients, the relationship to diabetic retinal disease progression, and finally, the current and potential application of the measurement of variations in choroidal thickness for patient management.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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