193 research outputs found
Planning and managing disruptive business models for RFID-startups-The disruptor's arrow of time
Abscisic Acid Is Not the Only Stomatal Inhibitor in the Transpiration Stream of Wheat Plants
Selective deactivation of gibberellins below the shoot apex is critical to flowering but not to stem elongation of Lolium
Gibberellins (GAs) cause dramatic increases in plant height and a genetic block in the synthesis of GA1 explains the dwarfing of Mendel's pea. For flowering, it is GA5 which is important in the long-day (LD) responsive grass, Lolium. As we show here, GA
Escape from the vicinity of fractal basin boundaries of a star cluster
The dissolution process of star clusters is rather intricate for theory. We
investigate it in the context of chaotic dynamics. We use the simple Plummer
model for the gravitational field of a star cluster and treat the tidal field
of the Galaxy within the tidal approximation. That is, a linear approximation
of tidal forces from the Galaxy based on epicyclic theory in a rotating
reference frame. The Poincar\'e surfaces of section reveal the effect of a
Coriolis asymmetry. The system is non-hyperbolic which has important
consequences for the dynamics. We calculated the basins of escape with respect
to the Lagrangian points and . The longest escape times have been
measured for initial conditions in the vicinity of the fractal basin
boundaries. Furthermore, we computed the chaotic saddle for the system and its
stable and unstable manifolds. The chaotic saddle is a fractal structure in
phase space which has the form of a Cantor set and introduces chaos into the
system.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS, Figures have lower qualit
The MyJump App is a Valid Method of Assessing and Classifying Limb Symmetry During Recovery from Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
# Background
Jump testing performance and limb symmetry measures are important metrics for clinicians to monitor during rehabilitation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction, however they require hardware and software which is not commonly available in clinical practice. Video-based solutions may present a feasible alternative, but their veracity in classifying patients using limb-symmetry of 90% has not been established, nor have the clinimetric values for the performance measures been reported in this population.
# Purpose
To describe the diagnostic accuracy (pass/fail using 90% LSI) and clinimetrics of an iPad-based app ("MyJump") compared to reference force plate analyses for limb symmetry, jump/hop height, contact time, flight time, and reactive strength index
# Study design
Prospective cohort, diagnostic accuracy
# Methods
Fifty-one consecutive patients recovering from ACL reconstruction undertaking routine independent clinical evaluation of their hop and jump performance were concurrently and independently examined using force plates and the MyJump app. Diagnostic accuracy of MyJump was compared to reference force plate analyses using a criterion of 90% limb symmetry.
# Results
Diagnostic accuracy of the MyJump app was very good: positive predictive value for jump height was 0.83 and 1.0 for reactive strength index, and negative predictive value was 0.95 and 1.0 for the same metrics, respectively. Of the 131 classifications made using the MyJump app, there were five false positives and three false negatives -- all of these were in classification of jump height with no misclassifications of RSI. Irrespective of jump type, the MyJump app displayed excellent reliability (ICC\>0.95) for both height and reactive strength index. Minimum detectable changes were approximately 1cm for height, 0.1 for reactive strength index, 0.02s for contact time, and 0.3s for flight time.
# Conclusion
Where force plates are unavailable, the MyJump app is a valid and reliable substitute for criteria assessment of jump/hop height and reactive strength index in those recovering from ACL surgery using a 90% limb symmetry threshold. The minimum detectable changes vary by metric but are likely sufficiently accurate to detect clinical changes.
# Level Of Evidence
Level
Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation improves exercise capacity and health-related quality of life in people with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised and non-randomised trials
Objective: The aim of this study was to undertake a contemporary review of the impact of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) targeted at patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods: We conducted searches of PubMED, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library of Controlled Trials (up until 30 November 2017) using key terms related to exercise-based CR and AF. Randomised and non-randomised controlled trials were included if they compared the effects of an exercise-based CR intervention to a no exercise or usual care control group. Meta-analyses of outcomes were conducted where appropriate.
Results: The nine randomised trials included 959 (483 exercise-based CR vs 476 controls) patients with various types of AF. Compared with control, pooled analysis showed no difference in all-cause mortality (risk ratio (RR) 1.08, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.53, p=0.64) following exercise-based CR. However, there were improvements in health-related quality of life (mean SF-36 mental component score (MCS): 4.00, 95% CI 0.26 to 7.74; p=0.04 and mean SF-36 physical component score: 1.82, 95% CI 0.06 to 3.59; p=0.04) and exercise capacity (mean peak VO2: 1.59 ml/kg/min, 95% CI 0.11 to 3.08; p=0.04; mean 6 min walk test: 46.9 m, 95% CI 26.4 to 67.4; p<0.001) with exercise-based CR. Improvements were also seen in AF symptom burden and markers of cardiac function.
Conclusions: Exercise capacity, cardiac function, symptom burden and health-related quality of life were improved with exercise-based CR in the short term (up to 6 months) targeted at patients with AF. However, high-quality multicentre randomised trials are needed to clarify the impact of exercise-based CR on key patient and health system outcomes (including health-related quality of life, mortality, hospitalisation and costs) and how these effects may vary across AF subtypes
The C-Band All-Sky Survey: Instrument design, status, and first-look data
The C-Band All-Sky Survey (C-BASS) aims to produce sensitive, all-sky maps of
diffuse Galactic emission at 5 GHz in total intensity and linear polarization.
These maps will be used (with other surveys) to separate the several
astrophysical components contributing to microwave emission, and in particular
will allow an accurate map of synchrotron emission to be produced for the
subtraction of foregrounds from measurements of the polarized Cosmic Microwave
Background. We describe the design of the analog instrument, the optics of our
6.1 m dish at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, the status of observations,
and first-look data.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, published in Proceedings of SPIE MIllimeter,
Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy V
(2010), Vol. 7741, 77411I-1 - 77411I-1
Outbursts of EX Hydrae: mass-transfer events or disc instabilities?
We present the 45-yr record of EX Hya's lightcurve and discuss the
characteristics of its 15 observed outbursts. We then concentrate on the 1998
outburst, reporting the first outburst X-ray observations. We discover an X-ray
beat-cycle modulation, indicating that an enhanced accretion stream couples
directly with the magnetosphere in outburst, confirming our previous
prediction. Optical eclipse profiles late in outburst show that the visible
light is dominated by an enhanced mass-transfer stream overflowing the
accretion disc. We are uncertain whether the enhanced mass transfer is
triggered by a disc instability, or by some other cause. While in outburst, EX
Hya shows some of the characteristics of SW Sex stars.Comment: To appear in MNRAS (8 pages; 9 figs
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