569 research outputs found
Strong Stein neighborhood bases
Let D be a smooth bounded pseudoconvex domain in C^n. We give several
characterizations for the closure of D to have a strong Stein neighborhood
basis in the sense that D has a defining function r such that {z\in C^n:r(z)<a}
is pseudoconvex for sufficiently small a>0. We also show that this condition is
invariant under proper holomorphic maps that extend smoothly to the boundary.Comment: 14 pages, fixed same references, to appear in Complex Var. Elliptic
Eq
High-pressure structural investigation of several zircon-type orthovanadates
Room temperature angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction measurements on
zircon-type EuVO4, LuVO4, and ScVO4 were performed up to 27 GPa. In the three
compounds we found evidence of a pressure-induced structural phase
transformation from zircon to a scheelite-type structure. The onset of the
transition is near 8 GPa, but the transition is sluggish and the low- and
high-pressure phases coexist in a pressure range of about 10 GPa. In EuVO4 and
LuVO4 a second transition to a M-fergusonite-type phase was found near 21 GPa.
The equations of state for the zircon and scheelite phases are also determined.
Among the three studied compounds, we found that ScVO4 is less compressible
than EuVO4 and LuVO4, being the most incompressible orthovanadate studied to
date. The sequence of structural transitions and compressibilities are
discussed in comparison with other zircon-type oxides.Comment: 34 pages, 2 Tables, 11 Figure
Health Workers' Performance in the Implementation of Patient Centred Tuberculosis Treatment (PCT) Strategy Under Programmatic Conditions in Tanzania: A Cross Sectional Study.
Patient Centred Tuberculosis Treatment (PCT) is a promising treatment delivery strategy for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). It aims to improve adherence to treatment by giving patients the choice of having drug intake supervised at the health facility by a medical professional or at home by a supporter of their choice. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in three districts of Tanzania during October 2007, one year after PCT was rolled out nationally. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to assess whether key elements of the PCT approach were being implemented, to evaluate supporters' knowledge, to capture opinions on factors contributing to treatment completion, and to assess how treatment completion was measured. Transcripts from open-ended responses were analysed using framework analysis. Interviews were conducted with 127 TB patients, 107 treatment supporters and 70 health workers. In total, 25.2% of TB patients were not given a choice about the place of treatment by health workers, and only 13.7% of those given a choice reported that they were given adequate time to make their decision. Only 24.3% of treatment supporters confirmed that they were instructed how to complete patients' treatment cards. Proper health education was the factor most frequently reported by health workers as favouring successful completion of TB treatment (45.7%). The majority of health workers (68.6%) said they checked returned blister packs to verify whether patients had taken their treatment, but only 20.0% checked patients' treatment cards. The provision of choice of treatment location, information on treatment, and guidance for treatment supporters need to be improved. There is a requirement for regular re-training of health workers with effective supportive supervision if successful implementation of the PCT approach is to be sustained
Zircon to monazite phase transition in CeVO4
X-ray diffraction and Raman-scattering measurements on cerium vanadate have
been performed up to 12 and 16 GPa, respectively. Experiments reveal that at
5.3 GPa the onset of a pressure-induced irreversible phase transition from the
zircon to the monazite structure. Beyond this pressure, diffraction peaks and
Raman-active modes of the monazite phase are measured. The zircon to monazite
transition in CeVO4 is distinctive among the other rare-earth orthovanadates.
We also observed softening of external translational Eg and internal B2g
bending modes. We attributed it to mechanical instabilities of zircon phase
against the pressure-induced distortion. We additionally report
lattice-dynamical and total-energy calculations which are in agreement with the
experimental results. Finally, the effect of non-hydrostatic stresses on the
structural sequence is studied and the equations of state of different phases
are reported.Comment: 45 pages, 8 figures, 8 table
Why do dogs (Canis familiaris) select the empty container in an observational learning task?
Many argue that dogs show unique susceptibility to human communicative signals that make them suitable for being engaged in complex co-operation with humans. It has also been revealed that socially provided information is particularly effective in influencing the behaviour of dogs even when the human’s action demonstration conveys inefficient or mistaken solution of task. It is unclear, however, how the communicative nature of the demonstration context and the presence of the human demonstrator affect the dogs’ object-choice behaviour in observational learning situations. In order to unfold the effects of these factors, 76 adult pet dogs could observe a communicative or a non-communicative demonstration in which the human retrieved a tennis ball from under an opaque container while manipulating another distant and obviously empty (transparent) one. Subjects were then allowed to choose either in the presence of the demonstrator or after she left the room. Results showed a significant main effect of the demonstration context (presence or absence of the human’s communicative signals), and we also found some evidence for the response-modifying effect of the presence of the human demonstrator during the dogs’ choice. That is, dogs predominantly chose the baited container, but if the demonstration context was communicative and the human was present during the dogs’ choice, subjects’ tendency to select the baited container has been reduced. In agreement with the studies showing sensitivity to human’s communicative signals in dogs, these findings point to a special form of social influence in observational learning situations when it comes to learning about causally opaque and less efficient (compared to what comes natural to the dog) action demonstrations
Diabetes is a Risk Factor for Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Case-Control Study from Mwanza, Tanzania.
Diabetes and TB are associated, and diabetes is increasingly common in low-income countries where tuberculosis (TB) is highly endemic. However, the role of diabetes for TB has not been assessed in populations where HIV is prevalent. A case-control study was conducted in an urban population in Tanzania among culture-confirmed pulmonary TB patients and non-TB neighbourhood controls. Participants were tested for diabetes according to WHO guidelines and serum concentrations of acute phase reactants were measured. The association between diabetes and TB, and the role of HIV as an effect modifier, were examined using logistic regression. Since blood glucose levels increase during the acute phase response, we adjusted for elevated serum acute phase reactants. Among 803 cases and 350 controls the mean (SD) age was 34.8 (11.9) and 33.8 (12.0) years, and the prevalence of diabetes was 16.7% (95% CI: 14.2; 19.4) and 9.4% (6.6; 13.0), respectively. Diabetes was associated with TB (OR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.5; 3.4, p<0.001). However, the association depended on HIV status (interaction, p = 0.01) due to a stronger association among HIV uninfected (OR 4.2, 95% CI: 1.5; 11.6, p = 0.01) compared to HIV infected (OR 0.1, 95% CI: 0.01; 1.8, p = 0.13) after adjusting for age, sex, demographic factors and elevated serum acute phase reactants. Diabetes is a risk factor for TB in HIV uninfected, whereas the association in HIV infected patients needs further study. The increasing diabetes prevalence may be a threat to TB control
Digitally Enhanced Advanced Services: Manufacturing Theme Research Agenda
This report presents the research priorities for the EPSRC funded Digitally Enhanced Advanced Services (DEAS) NetworkPlus in the manufacturing sector. Recent developments in digital technologies make it easy for manufacturers to monitor the use of their products in the field and then offer services based on the capability of their product. These outcome-based services are known as Digitally Enhanced Advanced Services and these have the potential to deliver sustained value for the UK economy
Potential of interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 in improving tuberculosis diagnosis in HIV-infected patients
The use of combined heart rate response and accelerometry to assess the level and predictors of physical activity in tuberculosis patients in Tanzania
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