485 research outputs found
Chaotic dynamics in superconducting nanocircuits
The quantum kicked rotator can be realized in a periodically driven
superconducting nanocircuit. A study of the fidelity allows the experimental
investigation of exponential instability of quantum motion inside the Ehrenfest
time scale, chaotic diffusion and quantum dynamical localization. The role of
noise and the experimental setup to measure the fidelity is discussed as well.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
TOBACCO CESSATION: COMPARING SMOKERS WITH AND WITHOUT SUB-STANCE ABUSE HISTORY
poster abstractSmoking cessation has been suggested to be more difficult for individuals with a history of chemical dependence. Previous research suggests a higher intensity of nicotine addiction, greater negative affect, and unfavorable psy-chometric assessment scores during cessation. The Indiana University Nico-tine Dependence Program (IUNDP) treated over 1200 patients using a Mayo Clinic-based approach which assesses the behavioral, social, and physiologi-cal aspects of tobacco and nicotine dependence. The IUNDP was also insti-tuted at FB. Participant charts (1992-2011) were selected from IUSD and FB for retrospective analysis. Chart selection criteria consisted of complete, pre-and post quit measures for a minimum of four appointments, and two post-quit appointments. 107 charts from patients without history of chemical de-pendence (ND) and 123 from those with a chemical dependence (CD) history were reviewed. Student researchers, trained to a standardized protocol, cap-tured 16 tobacco use and demographic variables, and 12 post-quit treatment measures. Analyses were made using Pearson chi-square tests for binary da-ta, Wilcoxon rank sum tests for all other data, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests for changes between time periods. Comparatively, smokers in the CD group were likely to be male, and displayed an increase in the following: sensorimotor handling scores of the Horn psychological test of nicotine de-pendence, negative mood, anxiety, restlessness, and average withdrawal scores (p<0.05). Additionally, CD smokers had less decrease in anger, but a greater decrease in frustration (p<0.05). Despite some differences, smokers with and without a history of substance abuse were similar in their tobacco-related addiction parameters. Results suggest that smokers with a history of chemical dependence have greater difficulty during smoking cessation with respect to addiction-related sensorimotor manipulation and psychological withdrawal symptoms
Subthalamic neural activity patterns anticipate economic risk decisions in gambling
Economic decision-making is disrupted in individuals with gambling disorder, an addictive behavior observed in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients receiving dopaminergic therapy. The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is involved in the inhibition of impulsive behaviors; however its role in impulse control disorders and addiction is still unclear. Here, we recorded STN local field potentials (LFPs) in PD patients with and without gambling disorder during an economic decision-making task. Reaction times analysis showed that for all patients the decision whether to risk preceded task onset. We compared then for both groups the STN LFP preceding high and low risk economic decisions. We found that risk avoidance in gamblers correlated with larger STN LFP low frequency (<12 Hz) fluctuations preceding task onset. In particular, the amplitude of low frequency LFP fluctuations carried significant information about future decisions. Decisions of patients not affected by gambling disorder were instead not correlated with pre-task STN LFP. Our results suggest that STN activity preceding task onset affects risk decisions by pre-emptively inhibiting attraction to high but unlikely rewards in favor of a long-term payoff
Periarticular histiocytic sarcoma with heart metastasis in a cat
A 4-year-old intact female domestic short-haired cat was referred for recommendations about adjuvant medical treatment 1 month after left forelimb amputation due to periarticular histiocytic sarcoma (HS). At presentation, physical abnormalities were limited to enlarged ipsilateral superficial cervical and axillary lymph nodes. Routine blood analysis, abdominal ultrasound, and thoracic radiology were unremarkable. The cat initially received lomustine without any adverse events. Four weeks later, the cat developed severe acute respiratory distress. Results of thoracic radiographs and transthoracic echocardiographic analysis were suggestive of pulmonary and heart metastasis. Due to the cat's poor clinical condition and prognosis, the owner elected euthanasia, and a necropsy was performed. Based on gross pathology, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry, an HS with nodal, renal, pulmonary, and heart (right auricular and right ventricular) metastases was diagnosed. This case represents the first description of HS with a heart metastasis in a cat, providing further insight into the clinical course and metastatic behavior of this rare malignant neoplasm. Clinicians should be aware of this site of metastasis and consider HS in the list of differential diagnoses for secondary heart tumors in cats
Intimate partner violence and forced migration during pregnancy: Structural constraints to women's agency
Little is known about migration during pregnancy related to intimate partner violence
(IPV). In this paper, we examine issues of agency in relation to pregnant women\u2019s
migrations in a high HIV prevalence area of Kenya. We qualitatively explored forced
migration among pregnant women, using data from in-depth interviews, focus groups
and IPV screening forms. To quantitatively examine migration during pregnancy, we
analysed data from a prospective study of 614 pregnant women. The qualitative data
revealed that women had varied responses to violence in pregnancy, with some being
able to leave the marital home voluntarily as a strategy to escape violence. Others were
\u2018sent packing\u2019 from their marital homes when they dared to exercise autonomy, in some
cases related to HIV status. Quantitative analyses revealed that pregnant women who
migrated were more educated, less likely to be living with a partner and had fewer
children than other women. Migration among pregnant women in Kenya illustrates the
complexity of understanding women\u2019s agency in the context of IPV. The findings
indicate that there is not a dichotomy between \u2018victim\u2019 and \u2018agent\u2019, but rather a complex
dynamic between and within pregnant women, who may sequentially or simultaneously
experience aspects of victimhood and/or agentic response
Coulomb-assisted braiding of Majorana fermions in a Josephson junction array
We show how to exchange (braid) Majorana fermions in a network of
superconducting nanowires by control over Coulomb interactions rather than
tunneling. Even though Majorana fermions are charge-neutral quasiparticles
(equal to their own antiparticle), they have an effective long-range
interaction through the even-odd electron number dependence of the
superconducting ground state. The flux through a split Josephson junction
controls this interaction via the ratio of Josephson and charging energies,
with exponential sensitivity. By switching the interaction on and off in
neighboring segments of a Josephson junction array, the non-Abelian braiding
statistics can be realized without the need to control tunnel couplings by gate
electrodes. This is a solution to the problem how to operate on topological
qubits when gate voltages are screened by the superconductor
Comparison between two bone substitutes for alveolar ridge preservation after tooth extraction: Cone-beam computed tomography results of a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial
AIM
To test the non-inferiority of demineralized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) compared to DBBM with 10% collagen (DBBM-C) for maintenance of bone volume after tooth extraction in the anterior maxilla.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sixty-six patients were randomly treated with DBBM or DBBM-C, both of which were covered with a collagen matrix for ridge preservation in the anterior maxilla. Cone-beam computed tomographic analysis was performed immediately and 4Â months after treatment. The primary outcome, for which non-inferiority of DBBM was tested, was change in the horizontal ridge width 1Â mm below the buccal alveolar crest (HW-1) 4Â months after extraction.
RESULTS
Four months after extraction, HW-1 measured -1.60 mm ± 0.82 mm for DBBM-C, while the DBBM group showed a mean loss of -1.37 mm ± 0.84 mm (p = 0.28, 0.23 [95% CI: -0.19; 0.64]). The horizontal ridge width at 3 mm (HW-3) showed -0.98 mm (±0.67 mm) for DBBM-C and -0.84 mm (±0.62 mm) for DBBM (p = 0.40, 0.12 [95% CI: -0.19; 0.45]), and the horizontal ridge width at 5 mm (HW-5) showed -0.67 mm (±0.47 mm) for DBBM-C and -0.56 mm (±0.48 mm) for DBBM (p = 0.36, 0.11 [95% CI: -0.13; 0.34]).
CONCLUSIONS
The present clinical trial demonstrated non-inferiority of DBBM compared to DBBM-C for maintenance of alveolar bone volume 4Â months after tooth extraction in the anterior maxilla
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