354 research outputs found
Benchmark calculation of n-3H and p-3He scattering
The n-3H and p-3He elastic phase-shifts below the trinucleon disintegration
thresholds are calculated by solving the 4-nucleon problem with three different
realistic nucleon-nucleon interactions (the I-N3LO model by Entem and
Machleidt, the Argonne v18 potential model, and a low-k model derived from the
CD-Bonn potential). Three different methods -- Alt, Grassberger and Sandhas,
Hyperspherical Harmonics, and Faddeev-Yakubovsky -- have been used and their
respective results are compared. For both n-3H and p-3He we observe a rather
good agreement between the three different theoretical methods. We also compare
the theoretical predictions with the available experimental data, confirming
the large underprediction of the p-3He analyzing power.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figure
The complex alterity of the Argentine deaf community
Se desarrollan tres partes: una perspectiva general de las relaciones interétnicas y del prejuicio, una visión específica del grupo cultural sordo de la Argentina y, posteriormente, se recorta del tema anterior un núcleo vital para el entendimiento de las relaciones sordos – oyentes centrada en el sector de los hijos oyentes de padres sordos. Mediante un enfoque intercultural-interlingüístico nos interrogamos sobre las relaciones que se instauran entre los actores socioculturales en un espacio interactivo de comunicación. De tal manera, abordamos la confrontación política entre la comunidad sorda y sectores del Estado desde la perspectiva de la interculturalidad, cuyo núcleo es el componente de poder en la situación social porque reformula la multiculturalidad de los contrastes culturales como político-culturales.Três partes são desenvolvidas: uma perspectiva geral das relações interétnicas e do preconceito, uma visão específica do grupo cultural sordo da Argentina e, posteriormente, um núcleo vital para a compreensão das relações sordos – ouvintes focado no setor de filhos ouvintes de pais surdos. Por meio de uma abordagem intercultural-interlinguística, nos perguntamos sobre as relações que se estabelecem entre atores socioculturais em um espaço interativo de comunicação. Desta forma, abordamos o confronto político entre a comunidade surda e os setores do Estado a partir da perspectiva da Interculturalidade, cujo núcleo é o componente de poder na situação social porque reformula a multiculturalidade dos contrastes culturais como político-cultural.Three parts are developed: a general perspective of interethnic relations and prejudice; a specific vision of the deaf cultural group of Argentina and later, a vital nucleus for the understanding of deaf - hearing relationships centered in the sector of hearing children of deaf parents. Through an intercultural-interlinguistic approach, we ask ourselves about the relationships that are established between sociocultural actors in an interactive communication space. this way, we address the political confrontation between the deaf community and sectors of the State from the perspective of interculturality whose core is the power component in the social situation because it reformulates the multiculturality cultural contrasts as political-cultural.Facultad de Psicologí
Proton-He elastic scattering at low energies
We present new accurate measurements of the differential cross section
and the proton analyzing power for proton-He
elastic scattering at various energies. A supersonic gas jet target has been
employed to obtain these low energy cross section measurements. The
distributions have been measured at = 0.99, 1.59,
2.24, 3.11, and 4.02 MeV. Full angular distributions of have been
measured at = 1.60, 2.25, 3.13, and 4.05 MeV. This set of
high-precision data is compared to four-body variational calculations employing
realistic nucleon-nucleon (NN) and three-nucleon (3N) interactions. For the
unpolarized cross section the agreement between the theoretical calculation and
data is good when a potential is used. The comparison between the
calculated and measured proton analyzing powers reveals discrepancies of
approximately 50% at the maximum of each distribution. This is analogous to the
existing `` Puzzle'' known for the past 20 years in nucleon-deuteron
elastic scattering.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, to be published in Physical Review C, corrected
reference 4
The Ay Problem for p-3He Elastic Scattering
We present evidence that numerically accurate quantum calculations employing
modern internucleon forces do not reproduce the proton analyzing power, A_y,
for p-3He elastic scattering at low energies. These calculations underpredict
new measured analyzing powers by approximately 30% at E_{c.m.} = 1.20 MeV and
by 40% at E_{c.m.} = 1.69 MeV, an effect analogous to a well-known problem in
p-d and n-d scattering. The calculations are performed using the complex Kohn
variational principle and the (correlated) Hyperspherical Harmonics technique
with full treatment of the Coulomb force. The inclusion of the three-nucleon
interaction does not improve the agreement with the experimental data.Comment: Latex file, 4 pages, 2 figures, to be published on Phys. Rev. Let
Factors influencing consumer wine choice: The case of wine tourism
This research was undertaken to examine the relationship between the wine tourism activities of consumers and their subsequent wine choices. Exploratory research was undertaken giving specific attention to wine tourism, first, as a factor of influence on decision-making, second, on levels of consumer involvement and third on long-term consumer loyalty. A convenience sample of 12 wine consumers in Dublin participated in the study. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to gather the qualitative data used. The findings clearly establish links made by consumers between their wine tourism experiences and their subsequent wine purchase preferences. The findings highlight the importance of facilitating the co-creation of memorable wine tourism experiences as a determinant of improved consumer involvement as well as the development of long-term consumer loyalty. Implications for industry practitioners suggest a continued focus on the provision of unique wine tourism experiences; while the findings support the theoretical links between consumers own past experiences and their use as a valuable information source when making purchase decisions
A randomised controlled trial of probiotics for the prevention of spontaneous preterm delivery associated with bacterial vaginosis: preliminary results
BACKGROUND:
Bacterial vaginosis increases the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery at less than 34 weeks of gestation.
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the early administration of selected lactobacilli strains (probiotics) to pregnant women with asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis/intermediate-degree infections to prevent spontaneous premature delivery and associated neonatal morbidity.
METHODS/DESIGN:
Asymptomatic pregnant women at less than 20 weeks of gestation, with no indication of elective preterm delivery, with a vaginal pH ??? 4.5 and Nugent score > 3 were randomly assigned to the placebo or intervention group (oral administration of selected lactobacilli up to the 24th to 26th week of gestation). The randomisation was stratified for the history of premature delivery (HPD) and blocked. The allocation was concealed, and the participating health professionals and patients were blinded. The primary outcome was preterm delivery (<34 to <32 weeks), and the secondary outcomes were associated neonatal complications.
RESULTS:
In total, 4,204 pregnant women were screened; 320 and 324 individuals were respectively randomly assigned to the placebo and intervention groups, and 62% finished the trial. None of the randomised patients were lost to follow-up. For the non-HPD stratum, the intent-to-treat relative risks of spontaneous premature birth at < 34 and < 37 weeks' gestation were 0.33 (0.03, 3.16) and 0.49 (0.17, 1.44), respectively, and they were non-significant (ns) with p = 0.31 and 0.14. The corresponding actual treatment figures were zero and 0.32 (0.09, 1.19), which were ns with p = 0.12 and 0.06. The intent-to-treat relative risk of spontaneous premature birth at < 37 weeks of gestation for the trial as a whole, including HPD and non-HPD participants, was 0.69 (0.26, 1.78), p = 0.30 (ns). The neonatal complications under evaluation occurred in only one infant (< 34 weeks; placebo group) who presented with respiratory distress syndrome and suspected early neonatal sepsis. The recorded adverse events were minor and relatively non-specific.
CONCLUSIONS:
The efficacy of the tested probiotics to prevent preterm delivery among women without a history of preterm delivery was not determined because the study sample was insufficient to estimate statistically significant intent-to-treat effects; additional studies are needed to evaluate this intervention among these women
Factors affecting adherence to guidelines for antithrombotic therapy in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation admitted to internal medicine wards
Current guidelines for ischemic stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation or flutter (AFF) recommend Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for patients at high-intermediate risk and aspirin for those at intermediate-low risk. The cost-effectiveness of these treatments was demonstrated also in elderly patients. However, there are several reports that emphasize the underuse of pharmacological prophylaxis of cardio-embolism in patients with AFF in different health care settings.
AIMS: To evaluate the adherence to current guidelines on cardio-embolic prophylaxis in elderly (> 65 years old) patients admitted with an established diagnosis of AFF to the Italian internal medicine wards participating in REPOSI registry, a project on polypathologies/polytherapies stemming from the collaboration between the Italian Society of Internal Medicine and the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research; to investigate whether or not hospitalization had an impact on guidelines adherence; to test the role of possible modifiers of VKAs prescription.
METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed registry data collected from January to December 2008 and assessed the prevalence of patients with AFF at admission and the prevalence of risk factors for cardio-embolism. After stratifying the patients according to their CHADS(2) score the percentage of appropriateness of antithrombotic therapy prescription was evaluated both at admission and at discharge. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were employed to verify whether or not socio-demographic (age >80years, living alone) and clinical features (previous or recent bleeding, cranio-facial trauma, cancer, dementia) modified the frequency and modalities of antithrombotic drugs prescription at admission and discharge.
RESULTS: Among the 1332 REPOSI patients, 247 were admitted with AFF. At admission, CHADS(2) score was ≥ 2 in 68.4% of patients, at discharge in 75.9%. Among patients with AFF 26.5% at admission and 32.8% at discharge were not on any antithrombotic therapy, and 43.7% at admission and 40.9% at discharge were not taking an appropriate therapy according to the CHADS(2) score. The higher the level of cardio-embolic risk the higher was the percentage of antiplatelet- but not of VKAs-treated patients. At admission or at discharge, both at univariable and at multivariable logistic regression, only an age >80 years and a diagnosis of cancer, previous or active, had a statistically significant negative effect on VKAs prescription. Moreover, only a positive history of bleeding events (past or present) was independently associated to no VKA prescription at discharge in patients who were on VKA therapy at admission. If heparin was considered as an appropriate therapy for patients with indication for VKAs, the percentage of patients admitted or discharged on appropriate therapy became respectively 43.7% and 53.4%.
CONCLUSION: Among elderly patients admitted with a diagnosis of AFF to internal medicine wards, an appropriate antithrombotic prophylaxis was taken by less than 50%, with an underuse of VKAs prescription independently of the level of cardio-embolic risk. Hospitalization did not improve the adherence to guideline
Overview of prognostic systems for hepatocellular carcinoma and ITA.LI.CA external validation of MESH and CNLC classifications
Prognostic assessment in patients with HCC remains an extremely difficult clinical task due to the complexity of this cancer where tumour characteristics interact with degree of liver dysfunction, patient general health status, and a large span of available treatment options. Several prognostic systems have been proposed in the last three decades, both from the Asian and European/North American countries. Prognostic scores, such as the CLIP score and the recent MESH score, have been generated on a solid statistical basis from real life population data, while staging systems, such as the BCLC scheme and the recent CNLC classification, have been created by experts according to recent HCC prognostic evidences from the literature. A third category includes combined prognostic systems that can be used both as prognostic scores and staging systems. A recent example is the ITA.LI.CA prognostic system including either a prognostic score and a simplified staging system. This review focuses first on an overview of the main prognostic systems for HCC classified according to the above three categories, and, second, on a comprehensive description of the methodology required for a correct comparison between different systems in terms of prognostic performance. In this second section the main studies in the literature comparing different prognostic systems are described in detail. Lastly, a formal comparison between the last prognostic systems proposed for each of the above three categories is performed using a large Italian database including 6882 HCC patients in order to concretely apply the comparison rules previously described
- …