724 research outputs found
Orgasm Induced Seizures: A Rare Phenomenon
A variety of stimuli can cause reflex seizures, Some triggers include light, music and cognitive phenomenon. There are case reports however where the phenomenon of sexual activity has been a trigger for epileptic seizures. Most of these cases reported are in women so far, and were found to be localized to right cerebral hemisphere. We report a case of a 36-year-old male with orgasm-induced seizures, with other atypical features compared to majority of previous reports.Keywords: Orgasm, Orgasmic seizures, Reflex epileps
Room-temperature bandlike transport and Hall effect in a high-mobility ambipolar polymer
The advent of new-class of high-mobility semiconducting polymers opens up a
window to address fundamental issues in electrical transport mechanism such as
hopping between localized states versus extended state conduction. Here, we
investigate the origin of ultra-low degree of disorder (~ 16 meV) and band-like
negative temperature (T) coefficient of the field effect electron mobility in a
high performance diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based semiconducting polymer.
Models based on the framework of mobility edge (ME) with exponential density of
states are invoked to explain the trends in transport. The temperature window
over which the system demonstrates de-localized transport was tuned by a
systematic introduction of disorder at the transport interface. Additionally,
the Hall mobility extracted from Hall-voltage measurements in these devices was
found to be comparable to field effect mobility in the high T band-like regime.
Comprehensive studies with different combinations of dielectrics and
semiconductors demonstrate the effectiveness of rationale molecular design
which emphasizes uniform-energetic landscape and low re-organization energy
Solubilities of sub- and supercritical carbon dioxide in polyester resins
In supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) assisted polymer processes the solubility of CO2 in a polymer plays a vital role. The higher the amount of CO2 dissolved in a polymer the higher is the viscosity reduction of the polymer. Solubilities Of CO2 in polyester resins based on propoxylated bisphenol (PPB) and ethoxylated bisphenol (PEB) have been measured using a magnetic suspension balance at temperatures ranging from 333 to 420 K and pressures up to 30 MPa. An optical cell has been used to independently determine the swelling of the polymers, which has been incorporated in the buoyancy correction. In both polyester resins, the solubility of CO, increases with increasing pressure and decreasing temperature as a result of variations in CO, density. The experimental solubility has been correlated to the Sanchez-Lacombe equation of state.</p
Accuracy of physical examination in the diagnosis of hypothyroidism: a cross-sectional, double-blind study
Background: Hypothyroidism is a common, potentially treatable
endocrine disorder. Since hypothyroidism is not always associated with
the signs and symptoms typically attributed to it, the diagnosis is
often missed. Conversely, patients with typical signs and symptoms may
not have the disease when laboratory tests are performed. Aims: We
aimed to determine the accuracy of physical examination in the
diagnosis of hypothyroidism. Setting and design: Prospective,
hospital-based, cross-sectional diagnostic study. Material and
Methods: Consecutive outpatients from the medicine department were
screened and an independent comparison of physical signs (coarse skin,
puffy face, slow movements, bradycardia, pretibial oedema and ankle
reflex) against thyroid hormone assay (TSH and FT4) was performed.
Statistical analysis: Diagnostic accuracy was measured as sensitivity,
specificity, positive likelihood ratios, negative likelihood ratios and
positive and negative predictive values. Results: Of the 1450
patients screened, 130 patients (102 women and 28 men) underwent both
clinical examination and thyroid function tests. Twenty-three patients
(18%) were diagnosed to have hypothyroidism by thyroid hormone assays.
No single sign could easily discriminate a euthyroid from a hypothyroid
patient (range of positive likelihood ratio (LR+) 1.0 to 3.88; range of
negative likelihood ratio (LR-): 0.42 to 1.0). No physical sign
generated a likelihood ratio large enough to increase the post-test
probability significantly. The combination of signs that had the
highest likelihood ratios (coarse skin, bradycardia and delayed ankle
reflex) was associated with modest accuracy (LR+ 3.75; LR- 0.48).
Conclusion: Clinicians cannot rely exclusively on physical examination
to confirm or rule out hypothyroidism. Patients with suspected
hypothyroidism require a diagnostic workup that includes thyroid
hormone assays
A Terminal Velocity on the Landscape: Particle Production near Extra Species Loci in Higher Dimensions
We investigate particle production near extra species loci (ESL) in a higher
dimensional field space and derive a speed limit in moduli space at weak
coupling. This terminal velocity is set by the characteristic ESL-separation
and the coupling of the extra degrees of freedom to the moduli, but it is
independent of the moduli's potential if the dimensionality of the field space
is considerably larger than the dimensionality of the loci, D >> d. Once the
terminal velocity is approached, particles are produced at a plethora of nearby
ESLs, preventing a further increase in speed via their backreaction. It is
possible to drive inflation at the terminal velocity, providing a
generalization of trapped inflation with attractive features: we find that more
than sixty e-folds of inflation for sub-Planckian excursions in field space are
possible if ESLs are ubiquitous, without fine tuning of initial conditions and
less tuned potentials. We construct a simple, observationally viable model with
a slightly red scalar power-spectrum and suppressed gravitational waves; we
comment on the presence of additional observational signatures originating from
IR-cascading and individual massive particles. We also show that
moduli-trapping at an ESL is suppressed for D >> d, hindering dynamical
selection of high-symmetry vacua on the landscape based on this mechanism.Comment: 46 pages, 6 figures. V3: typos corrected compared to JHEP version,
conclusions unchange
Dealing with missing standard deviation and mean values in meta-analysis of continuous outcomes: a systematic review
Background: Rigorous, informative meta-analyses rely on availability of appropriate summary statistics or individual
participant data. For continuous outcomes, especially those with naturally skewed distributions, summary
information on the mean or variability often goes unreported. While full reporting of original trial data is the ideal,
we sought to identify methods for handling unreported mean or variability summary statistics in meta-analysis.
Methods: We undertook two systematic literature reviews to identify methodological approaches used to deal with
missing mean or variability summary statistics. Five electronic databases were searched, in addition to the Cochrane
Colloquium abstract books and the Cochrane Statistics Methods Group mailing list archive. We also conducted cited
reference searching and emailed topic experts to identify recent methodological developments. Details recorded
included the description of the method, the information required to implement the method, any underlying
assumptions and whether the method could be readily applied in standard statistical software. We provided a
summary description of the methods identified, illustrating selected methods in example meta-analysis scenarios.
Results: For missing standard deviations (SDs), following screening of 503 articles, fifteen methods were identified in
addition to those reported in a previous review. These included Bayesian hierarchical modelling at the meta-analysis
level; summary statistic level imputation based on observed SD values from other trials in the meta-analysis; a practical
approximation based on the range; and algebraic estimation of the SD based on other summary statistics. Following
screening of 1124 articles for methods estimating the mean, one approximate Bayesian computation approach and
three papers based on alternative summary statistics were identified. Illustrative meta-analyses showed that when
replacing a missing SD the approximation using the range minimised loss of precision and generally performed better
than omitting trials. When estimating missing means, a formula using the median, lower quartile and upper quartile
performed best in preserving the precision of the meta-analysis findings, although in some scenarios, omitting trials
gave superior results.
Conclusions: Methods based on summary statistics (minimum, maximum, lower quartile, upper quartile, median)
reported in the literature facilitate more comprehensive inclusion of randomised controlled trials with missing mean or
variability summary statistics within meta-analyses
An essential function for the ATR-Activation-Domain (AAD) of TopBP1 in mouse development and cellular senescence
ATR activation is dependent on temporal and spatial interactions with partner proteins. In the budding yeast model, three proteins – Dpb11TopBP1, Ddc1Rad9 and Dna2 - all interact with and activate Mec1ATR. Each contains an ATR activation domain (ADD) that interacts directly with the Mec1ATR:Ddc2ATRIP complex. Any of the Dpb11TopBP1, Ddc1Rad9 or Dna2 ADDs is sufficient to activate Mec1ATR in vitro. All three can also independently activate Mec1ATR in vivo: the checkpoint is lost only when all three AADs are absent. In metazoans, only TopBP1 has been identified as a direct ATR activator. Depletion-replacement approaches suggest the TopBP1-AAD is both sufficient and necessary for ATR activation. The physiological function of the TopBP1 AAD is, however, unknown. We created a knock-in point mutation (W1147R) that ablates mouse TopBP1-AAD function. TopBP1-W1147R is early embryonic lethal. To analyse TopBP1-W1147R cellular function in vivo, we silenced the wild type TopBP1 allele in heterozygous MEFs. AAD inactivation impaired cell proliferation, promoted premature senescence and compromised Chk1 signalling following UV irradiation. We also show enforced TopBP1 dimerization promotes ATR-dependent Chk1 phosphorylation. Our data suggest that, unlike the yeast models, the TopBP1-AAD is the major activator of ATR, sustaining cell proliferation and embryonic development
A cross-sectional comparative study of gut bacterial community of Indian and Finnish children
The human gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the compositional development of gut microbiota. Though well documented in western pediatrics population, little is known about how various host conditions affect populations in different geographic locations such as the Indian subcontinent. Given the impact of distinct environmental conditions, our study assess the gut bacterial diversity of a small cohort of Indian and Finnish children and investigated the influence of FUT2 secretor status and birth mode on the gut microbiome of these populations. Using multiple profiling techniques, we show that the gut bacterial community structure in 13-14-year-old Indian (n = 47) and Finnish (n = 52) children differs significantly. Specifically, Finnish children possessed higher Blautia and Bifidobacterium, while genera Prevotella and Megasphaera were predominant in Indian children. Our study also demonstrates a strong influence of FUT2 and birth mode variants on specific gut bacterial taxa, influence of which was noticed to differ between the two populations under study
Effect of continuous positive airway pressure therapy on a large hemangioma complicated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a case report
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Hemangiomas involving the upper airway can be an uncommon cause of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 26-year-old Caucasian man with a known history of a large hemangioma of his head and neck presented with sleep-disordered breathing to the sleep unit of our hospital. Severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome was revealed on polysomnography. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure was implemented effectively, reducing daytime hypersomnolence and significantly improving sleep parameters. After three years of adherent use, the patient remains in a good condition and the hemangioma is stable.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Application of continuous positive airway pressure can be an effective treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome complicated with vascular tumors. Periodic follow-up of these patients is necessary, as little is known about the long-term effects of continuous positive airway pressure therapy.</p
Massless D-strings and moduli stabilization in type I cosmology
We consider the cosmological evolution induced by the free energy F of a gas
of maximally supersymmetric heterotic strings at finite temperature and weak
coupling in dimension D>=4. We show that F, which plays the role of an
effective potential, has minima associated to enhanced gauge symmetries, where
all internal moduli can be attracted and dynamically stabilized. Using the fact
that the heterotic/type I S-duality remains valid at finite temperature and can
be applied at each instant of a quasi-static evolution, we find in the dual
type I cosmology that all internal NS-NS and RR moduli in the closed string
sector and the Wilson lines in the open string sector can be stabilized. For
the special case of D=6, the internal volume modulus remains a flat direction,
while the dilaton is stabilized. An essential role is played by light D-string
modes wrapping the internal manifold and whose contribution to the free energy
cannot be omitted, even when the type I string is at weak coupling. As a
result, the order of magnitude of the internal radii expectation values on the
type I side is (lambda_I alpha')^{1/2}, where lambda_I is the ten-dimensional
string coupling. The non-perturbative corrections to the type I free energy can
alternatively be described as effects of "thermal E1-instantons", whose
worldsheets wrap the compact Euclidean time cycle.Comment: 39 pages, 1 figur
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