Metal-insulator transition in YHx: scaling of the sub-THz conductivity

The established scaling laws of the conductivity with temperature and doping are strong indications for the quantum nature of the metal-insulator transition in YH$_x$. Here we report the first results on the frequency scaling of the conductivity. Samples were brought from the insulating to the metallic phase by carrier doping via illumination. In the metallic phase, the sub-terahertz conductivity coincides with the dc data. These results do not agree with the simplest picture of a quantum-phase transition.Comment: 4 pages, accepted to PR

Evaluating irreversible social harms

In this paper we investigate how irreversible social harms should be evaluated from an ethical perspective. First, we define a general notion of irreversibility, drawing on discussions in ecology and economics. This notion is relational in the sense that 'irreversibility' is always 'irreversibility for a certain party'. We also note that a change may be more or less difficult to reverse, with full reversibility and irreversibility as two extremes. Second, we examine what can make an irreversible change a harm, and why these kinds of harms have particular ethical significance. Here we draw on discussions from ethics, particularly regarding the Capability Approach. We also show how our notion of irreversibility connects to, and can add to, discussions in the fields of development studies and disaster management, particularly on the concept of resilience. Third, we suggest how potentially irreversible harms can be recognised and dealt with in policy-making. Finally, we show how our framework can be applied by evaluating the land acquisition process of two biofuel producers in Tanzania

Ageing effects around the glass and melting transitions in poly(dimethylsiloxane) visualized by resistance measurements

The process of ageing in rubbers requires monitoring over long periods (days to years). To do so in non-conducting rubbers, small amounts of carbon-black particles were dispersed in a fractal network through the rubber matrix, to make the rubber conducting without modifying its properties. Continuous monitoring of the resistance reveals the structural changes around the glass and melting transitions and especially details about the hysteresis and ageing processes. We illustrate the method for the semicrystalline polymer poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS).Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Multinutrients for the Treatment of Psychiatric Symptoms in Clinical Samples: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

This systematic review and meta-analysis focused on randomized controlled trials (RCT) of multinutrients consisting of at least four vitamins and/or minerals as interventions for participants with psychiatric symptoms. A systematic search identified 16 RCTs that fit the inclusion criteria (n = 1719 participants) in six psychiatric categories: depression, post-disaster stress, antisocial behavior, behavioral deficits in dementia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) was used to rate the evidence base. Significant clinical benefit was assessed using minimal clinically important differences (MIDs). Due to heterogeneity in participants, multinutrient formulas, outcome measures, and absence of complete data, only the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) category was eligible for meta-analyses. In ADHD populations, statistically and clinically significant improvements were found in global functioning, Mean Difference (MD) −3.3, p = 0.001, MID −3.26; Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) −0.49 p = 0.001 MD −0.5), clinician ratings of global improvement (MD −0.58, p = 0.001, MID −0.5) and ADHD improvement (MD −0.54, p = 0.002, MID −0.5), and clinician (but not observer) measures of ADHD inattentive symptoms (MD −1.53, p = 0.05, MID −0.5). Narrative synthesis also revealed a pattern of benefit for global measures of improvement, for example: in autism, and in participants with behavioral deficits in dementia. Post-natural disaster anxiety and the number of violent incidents in prison populations also improved. Broad-spectrum formulas (vitamins + minerals) demonstrated more robust effects than formulas with fewer ingredients. This review highlights the need for robust methodology-RCTs that report full data, including means and standard deviations for all outcomes-in order to further elucidate the effects of multinutrients for psychiatric symptoms

Physician gaze shifts in patient-physician interactions:functions, accounts and responses

ObjectivesPhysician gaze towards patients is fundamental for medical consultations. Physicians’ use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) affects their gaze towards patients, and may negatively influence this interaction. We aimed to study conversation patterns during gaze shifts of physicians from the patient towards the EHR.MethodsOutpatient consultations (N=8) were eye-tracked. Interactions around physician gaze shifts towards the computer were transcribed.ResultsWe found that physician gaze shifts have different interactional functions, e.g., introducing a topic switch or entering data into the EHR. Furthermore, physicians differ in how they account for their gaze shifts, i.e., both implicitly and explicitly. Third, patients vary in treating the gaze shift as an indication to continue their turn or not.ConclusionsOur results suggest that physician gaze shifts vary in function, in how physicians account for them, and in how they influence the conversation. Future research should take into account distinctions when relating gaze to patient outcomes.Practice implicationsPhysicians may be aware of the interactional context of their gaze behaviour. Patients respond differently to various types of gaze shifts. How physicians handle gaze shifts can therefore have different consequences for the interaction

Therapeutic options in the management of acromegaly: focus on lanreotide Autogel®

In acromegaly, expert surgery is curative in only about 60% of patients. Postoperative radiation therapy is associated with a high incidence of hypopituitarism and its effect on growth hormone (GH) production is slow, so that adjuvant medical treatment becomes of importance in the management of many patients. To delineate the role of lanreotide in the treatment of acromegaly. Search of Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases for clinical studies of lanreotide in acromegaly. Treatment with lanreotide slow release and lanreotide Autogel((R)) normalized GH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations in about 50% of patients. The efficacy of 120 mg lanreotide Autogel((R)) on GH and IGF-I levels was comparable with that of 20 mg octreotide LAR. There were no differences in improvement of cardiac function, decrease in pancreatic beta-cell function, or occurrence of side effects, including cholelithiasis, between octreotide LAR and lanreotide Autogel(R). When postoperative treatment with somatostatin analogs does not result in normalization of serum IGF-I and GH levels after noncurative surgery, pegvisomant alone or in combination with somatostatin analogs can control these levels in a substantial number of patient

How to assess the external validity of therapeutic trials: a conceptual approach

Background External validity of study results is an important issue from a clinical point of view. From a methodological point of view, however, the concept of external validity is more complex than it seems to be at first glance. Methods Methodological review to address the concept of external validity. Results External validity refers to the question whether results are generalizable to persons other than the population in the original study. The only formal way to establish the external validity would be to repeat the study for that specific target population. We propose a three-way approach for assessing the external validity for specified target populations. (i) The study population might not be representative for the eligibility criteria that were intended. It should be addressed whether the study population differs from the intended source population with respect to characteristics that influence outcome. (ii) The target population will, by definition, differ from the study population with respect to geographical, temporal and ethnical conditions. Pondering external validity means asking the question whether these differences may influence study results. (iii) It should be assessed whether the study's conclusions can be generalized to target populations that do not meet all the eligibility criteria. Conclusion Judging the external validity of study results cannot be done by applying given eligibility criteria to a single target population. Rather, it is a complex reflection in which prior knowledge, statistical considerations, biological plausibility and eligibility criteria all have plac

Lipolytic sensitivity to catecholamines in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Lipolysis is higher in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) than in healthy control subjects. To evaluate whether this increase in lipolysis is related to increased beta-adrenergic sensitivity, we compared the lipolytic response to epinephrine (approximately 15 ng x kg(-1) x min(-1)) of six AIDS patients with that of six matched control subjects. Lipolysis was measured by infusion of [2H2]glycerol and [2H2]palmitate. The baseline rates of appearance of palmitate (2.06 +/- 0.21 compared with 1.45 +/- 0.07 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and glycerol (2.35 +/- 0.16 compared with 1.35 +/- 0.06 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1)) were higher in AIDS patients (P <0.05). The absolute increase in lipolysis, an indicator of the responsiveness to epinephrine, was not different between groups for the rate of appearance of palmitate (86 +/- 14 compared with 75 +/- 7 micromol x L(-1) x min(-1)) or glycerol (79 +/- 13 compared with 59 +/- 6 micromol x L(-1) x min(-1)). Plasma concentrations of epinephrine were not different between groups. Lipolysis was higher whereas the lipolytic response to epinephrine was normal in AIDS patients. Increased lipolytic sensitivity to catecholamines is not the cause of increased lipolysis in AID

Dissolution of metal precipitates in multicrystalline silicon during annealing and the protective effect of phosphorus emitters

The degradation of the carrier lifetime in multicrystalline silicon due to the dissolution of metal precipitates during high temperature annealing is well known. This letter presents evidence indicating that the presence of phosphorus emitters during annealing can help reduce this recontamination. Part of the degradation observed is due to increased interstitial iron concentrations caused by the dissolution of iron precipitates during annealing. However, dissolution of other metals also seems to contribute to the reduced carrier lifetimes observed.The authors would like to acknowledge the Australian Research Council for funding this work