437 research outputs found
The Clinical and Serological Effect of a Gluten-Free Diet in Border Terriers with Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome
Background: Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome (CECS) is a paroxysmal movement disorder of Border Terriers (BTs). These dogs might respond to a gluten-free diet.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the clinical and serological effect of a gluten-free diet in BTs with CECS.
Animals: Six client-owned BTs with clinically confirmed CECS.
Methods: Dogs were prospectively recruited that had at least a 6-month history of CECS based on the observed phenomenology (using video) and had exhibited at least 2 separate episodes on different days. Dogs were tested for anti-transglutaminase 2 (TG2 IgA) and anti-gliadin (AGA IgG) antibodies in the serum at presentation, and 3, 6, and 9 months after the introduction of a gluten-free diet. Duodenal biopsies were performed in 1 dog.
Results: Serum TG2 IgA titers were increased in 6/6 BTs (P = .006) and AGA IgG titers were increased in 5/6 BTs at presentation compared to those of controls (P = .018). After 9 months, there was clinical and serological improvement in all BTs with CECS strictly adhering to a gluten-free diet (5/5). One dog had persistently increased antibody titers. This dog scavenged horse manure. On the strict introduction of a gluten-free diet this dog also had an improved clinical and serological response. The diet-associated improvement was reversible in 2 dogs on completion of the study, both of which suffered a relapse of CECS on the re-introduction of gluten.
Conclusions: Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome in BTs is a gluten-sensitive movement disorder triggered and perpetuated by gluten and thus responsive to a gluten-free diet
Higher order finite difference schemes for the magnetic induction equations
We describe high order accurate and stable finite difference schemes for the
initial-boundary value problem associated with the magnetic induction
equations. These equations model the evolution of a magnetic field due to a
given velocity field. The finite difference schemes are based on Summation by
Parts (SBP) operators for spatial derivatives and a Simultaneous Approximation
Term (SAT) technique for imposing boundary conditions. We present various
numerical experiments that demonstrate both the stability as well as high order
of accuracy of the schemes.Comment: 20 page
To Ban or Not to Ban: Foreign Lobbying and Cross National Externalities
This paper studies the costs and benefits of foreign lobbying. We show how and when foreign lobbying can help internalize cross national externalities. We argue that this is an often overlooked benefit of foreign lobbying. We also study under what conditions a constitutional rule banning foreign lobbying is in the national interest of a country. A key factor in this calculus is whether the interests of foreign lobby groups and domestic unorganized groups coincide or not. We illustrate the logic with examples from trade policy and environmental regulation
ISiS: The Indiana Silicon Sphere
This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY-931478
First Tests of the Indiana Silicon Sphere (ISiS)
This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY-931478
The impact of basic vs. enhanced Go NAPSACC on child care centers' healthy eating and physical activity practices: Protocol for a type 3 hybrid effectiveness-implementation cluster-randomized trial
Background: To prevent childhood obesity and promote healthy development, health authorities recommend that child care programs use the evidence-based practices that foster healthy eating and physical habits in children. Go NAPSACC is an intervention shown to improve use of these recommended practices, but it is known to encounter barriers that limit its impact and widespread use. Methods: This study will use a type 3 hybrid effectiveness-implementation cluster-randomized trial to compare effectiveness and implementation outcomes achieved from Go NAPSACC delivered with a basic or enhanced implementation approach. Participants will include approximately 25 coaches from Child Care Aware of Kentucky (serving four geographic regions), 97 child care centers with a director and teacher from each and two cross-sectional samples of 485 3-4-year-old children (one recruitment at baseline, another at follow-up). Coaches will be randomly assigned to deliver Go NAPSACC using either the basic or enhanced implementation approach. "Basic Go NAPSACC" represents the traditional way of delivering Go NAPSACC. "Enhanced Go NAPSACC" incorporates preparatory and support activities before and during their Go NAPSACC work, which are guided by the Quality Implementation Framework and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Data will be collected primarily at baseline and post-intervention, with select measures continuing through 6, 12, and 24 months post-intervention. Guided largely by RE-AIM, outcomes will assess change in centers' use of evidence-based nutrition and physical activity practices (primary, measured via observation); centers' adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the Go NAPSACC program (assessed via website use); center directors', teachers', and coaches' perceptions of contextual factors (assessed via self-report surveys); children's eating and physical activity behaviors at child care (measured via observation and accelerometers); and cost-effectiveness (assessed via logs and expense tracking). The hypotheses anticipate that "Enhanced Go NAPSACC" will have greater effects than "Basic Go NAPSACC." Discussion: This study incorporates many lessons gleaned from the growing implementation science field, but also offers opportunities to address the field's research priorities, including applying a systematic method to tailor implementation strategies, examining the processes and mechanisms through which implementation strategies produce their effects, and conducting an economic evaluation of implementation strategies. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03938103, Registered April 8, 201
Artificial gauge fields for the Bose-Hubbard model on a checkerboard superlattice and extended Bose-Hubbard model
We study the effects of an artificial gauge field on the ground-state phases
of the Bose-Hubbard model on a checkerboard superlattice in two dimensions,
including the superfluid phase and the Mott and alternating Mott insulators.
First, we discuss the single-particle Hofstadter problem, and show that the
presence of a checkerboard superlattice gives rise to a magnetic
flux-independent energy gap in the excitation spectrum. Then, we consider the
many-particle problem, and derive an analytical mean-field expression for the
superfluid-Mott and superfluid--alternating-Mott insulator phase transition
boundaries. Finally, since the phase diagram of the Bose-Hubbard model on a
checkerboard superlattice is in many ways similar to that of the extended
Bose-Hubbard model, we comment on the effects of magnetic field on the latter
model, and derive an analytical mean-field expression for the
superfluid-insulator phase transition boundaries as well.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures and 1 table; to appear in EPJ
Simulation techniques for cosmological simulations
Modern cosmological observations allow us to study in great detail the
evolution and history of the large scale structure hierarchy. The fundamental
problem of accurate constraints on the cosmological parameters, within a given
cosmological model, requires precise modelling of the observed structure. In
this paper we briefly review the current most effective techniques of large
scale structure simulations, emphasising both their advantages and
shortcomings. Starting with basics of the direct N-body simulations appropriate
to modelling cold dark matter evolution, we then discuss the direct-sum
technique GRAPE, particle-mesh (PM) and hybrid methods, combining the PM and
the tree algorithms. Simulations of baryonic matter in the Universe often use
hydrodynamic codes based on both particle methods that discretise mass, and
grid-based methods. We briefly describe Eulerian grid methods, and also some
variants of Lagrangian smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) methods.Comment: 42 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in Space Science
Reviews, special issue "Clusters of galaxies: beyond the thermal view",
Editor J.S. Kaastra, Chapter 12; work done by an international team at the
International Space Science Institute (ISSI), Bern, organised by J.S.
Kaastra, A.M. Bykov, S. Schindler & J.A.M. Bleeke
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