501 research outputs found
INTRA- AND INTERRATER RELIABILITY OF MORPHOLOGICALLY EVALUATED LYMPHOCYTE APOPTOSIS IN TRAINED AND UNTRAINED OBSERVERS
Exercise-induced lymphocyte apoptosis has been reported using biochemical analysis and morphological assessment. Morphological evaluation is limited by the subjective nature of the technique. This investigation evaluated the intra- and interrater reliability of trained and untrained observers assessing apoptosis morphologically. Blood smears at baseline (PRE) and following cycle ergometer exercise (POST) were assessed microscopically for each condition. To obtain reliability measures, cell sets were evaluated for morphological characteristics of apoptosis on two separate occasions by trained and untrained observers using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Test-retest reliability for trained observers was higher for both conditions than untrained observers. Interrater reliability was below-average or below acceptable regardless of training status. Exercise may induce apoptotic changes in lymphocytes that are more easily discriminated by trained observers. Investigations assessing exercise-induced apoptosis should train observers in order to produce reliable results, and a single trained observer would be expected to yield the most reliable results
Targeted free energy perturbation
A generalization of the free energy perturbation identity is derived, and a
computational strategy based on this result is presented. A simple example
illustrates the efficiency gains that can be achieved with this method.Comment: 8 pages + 1 color figur
Prevalencia y factores de riesgo de úlceras por presión
ObjetivoConocer la prevalencia de úlceras por presión (UPP) en pacientes incapacitados de una Zona Básica de Salud (ZBS) y caracterizar los factores de riesgo asociados a su aparición.DiseñoEstudio transversal observacional.EmplazamientoZBS Rincón de la Victoria (Málaga).ParticipantesPacientes incluidos en el Programa de Incapacitados (n = 178), de la ZBS, residentes en su domicilio o en una residencia geriátrica.MedicionesCuestionario específico con variables sociodemográficas y de salud. Para la valoración de factores de riesgo asociados con la formación de UPP, se utilizó la Escala de Norton Modificada (ENM). La variable resultado de interés fue la presencia o ausencia de UPP, localización y grado. El denominador para el cálculo de la prevalencia ha sido el total de pacientes valorados.ResultadosLa prevalencia fue del 12,9%. La característica sociodemográfica más significativa asociada con la presencia de úlceras en estos pacientes fue el nivel de instrucción del cuidador. Se constata asociación de determinadas variables del estado de salud del paciente con aparición de UPP.ConclusionesLos resultados alertan a la necesidad de la realización de protocolos diagnósticos y de intervención comunitaria para reducir la presentación de UPP en pacientes incapacitados que viven en la comunidad.ObjectivesTo study prevalence of pressure ulcers among functionally impaired patients in the community and evaluate risk factors associated with the development of pressure ulcers in these patients.DesignCross-sectional, observational study.SettingCommunity dwellers served by the Primary Health Care Area of Rincón de la Victoria in Málaga.ParticipantsAll patients included in the «Impaired Patient Programme» (n=178).MethodsA questionnaire was developed to ascertain demographic and health characteristics. Risk factors were evaluated with the Modified Norton Scale. The outcome variable of interest was presence or absence of pressure ulcers, their location and grade. The denominator used for the calculation of the prevalence was the total of evaluated patients.ResultsPrevalence of pressure ulcers in our Basic Health Area was 12.9%. The most important sociodemographic characteristic associated with the presence of pressure ulcers in these patients was the educational attainment of the caregiver. Health varaibles of the patient were also associated with the risk of developing ulcers.ConclusionsResults indicate the need of diagnostic protocols with standardised instruments and prevention plans to reduce pressure ulcers in the community. Longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate interventions in this area
Cold Nuclear Matter In Holographic QCD
We study the Sakai-Sugimoto model of holographic QCD at zero temperature and
finite chemical potential. We find that as the baryon chemical potential is
increased above a critical value, there is a phase transition to a nuclear
matter phase characterized by a condensate of instantons on the probe D-branes
in the string theory dual. As a result of electrostatic interactions between
the instantons, this condensate expands towards the UV when the chemical
potential is increased, giving a holographic version of the expansion of the
Fermi surface. We argue based on properties of instantons that the nuclear
matter phase is necessarily inhomogeneous to arbitrarily high density. This
suggests an explanation of the "chiral density wave" instability of the quark
Fermi surface in large N_c QCD at asymptotically large chemical potential. We
study properties of the nuclear matter phase as a function of chemical
potential beyond the transition and argue in particular that the model can be
used to make a semi-quantitative prediction of the binding energy per nucleon
for nuclear matter in ordinary QCD.Comment: 31 pages, LaTeX, 1 figure, v2: some formulae corrected, qualitative
results unchange
Global Strings in High Density QCD
We show that several types of global strings occur in colour superconducting
quark matter due to the spontaneous violation of relevant U(1) symmetries.
These include the baryon U(1)_B, and approximate axial U(1)_A symmetries as
well as an approximate U(1)_S arising from kaon condensation. We discuss some
general properties of these strings and their interactions. In particular, we
demonstrate that the U(1)_A strings behave as superconducting strings. We draw
some parallels between these strings and global cosmological strings and
discuss some possible implications of these strings to the physics in neutron
star cores.Comment: LaTeX JHEP-format (26 pages) Option in source for REVTeX4 forma
Reconsolidation of the soil surface after tillage discontinuity, with and without cultivation, related to erosion and its prediction with RUSLE
Limits on Cosmological Variation of Strong Interaction and Quark Masses from Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, Cosmic, Laboratory and Oklo Data
Recent data on cosmological variation of the electromagnetic fine structure
constant from distant quasar (QSO) absorption spectra have inspired a more
general discussion of possible variation of other constants. We discuss
variation of strong scale and quark masses. We derive the limits on their
relative change from (i) primordial Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN); (ii)
Oklo natural nuclear reactor, (iii) quasar absorption spectra, and (iv)
laboratory measurements of hyperfine intervals.Comment: 10 pages 2 figurs: second version have several references added and
some new comment
Spectral fluctuation properties of spherical nuclei
The spectral fluctuation properties of spherical nuclei are considered by use
of NNSD statistic. With employing a generalized Brody distribution included
Poisson, GOE and GUE limits and also MLE technique, the chaoticity parameters
are estimated for sequences prepared by all the available empirical data. The
ML-based estimated values and also KLD measures propose a non regular dynamic.
Also, spherical odd-mass nuclei in the mass region, exhibit a slight deviation
to the GUE spectral statistics rather than the GOE.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure
QGP flow fluctuations and the characteristics of higher moments
The dynamical development of expanding Quark-gluon Plasma (QGP) flow is
studied in a 3+1D fluid dynamical model with a globally symmetric, initial
condition. We minimize fluctuations arising from complex dynamical processes at
finite impact parameters and from fluctuating random initial conditions to have
a conservative fluid dynamical background estimate for the statistical
distributions of the thermodynamical parameters. We also avoid a phase
transition in the equation of state, and we let the matter supercool during the
expansion.
Then central Pb+Pb collisions at TeV are studied in an
almost perfect fluid dynamical model, with azimuthally symmetric initial state
generated in a dynamical flux-tube model. The general development of
thermodynamical extensives are also shown for lower energies.
We observe considerable deviations from a thermal equilibrium source as a
consequence of the fluid dynamical expansion arising from a least fluctuating
initial state
The check of QCD based on the tau-decay data analysis in the complex q^2-plane
The thorough analysis of the ALEPH data on hadronic tau-decay is performed in
the framework of QCD. The perturbative calculations are performed in 3 and
4-loop approximations. The terms of the operator product expansion (OPE) are
accounted up to dimension D=8. The value of the QCD coupling constant
alpha_s(m_tau^2)=0.355 pm 0.025 was found from hadronic branching ratio R_tau.
The V+A and V spectral function are analyzed using analytical properties of
polarization operators in the whole complex q^2-plane. Borel sum rules in the
complex q^2 plane along the rays, starting from the origin, are used. It was
demonstrated that QCD with OPE terms is in agreement with the data for the
coupling constant close to the lower error edge alpha_s(m_tau^2)=0.330. The
restriction on the value of the gluonic condensate was found
=0.006 pm 0.012 GeV^2. The analytical perturbative QCD was
compared with the data. It is demonstrated to be in strong contradiction with
experiment. The restrictions on the renormalon contribution were found. The
instanton contributions to the polarization operator are analyzed in various
sum rules. In Borel transformation they appear to be small, but not in spectral
moments sum rules.Comment: 24 pages; 1 latex + 13 figure files. V2: misprints are corrected,
uncertainty in alpha_s is explained in more transparent way, acknowledgement
is adde
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