267 research outputs found
Quantum Tunneling Detection of Two-photon and Two-electron Processes
We analyze the operation of a quantum tunneling detector coupled to a
coherent conductor. We demonstrate that in a certain energy range the output of
the detector is determined by two-photon processes, two-electron processes and
the interference of the two. We show how the individual contributions of these
processes can be resolved in experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Hierarchical Models for Independence Structures of Networks
We introduce a new family of network models, called hierarchical network
models, that allow us to represent in an explicit manner the stochastic
dependence among the dyads (random ties) of the network. In particular, each
member of this family can be associated with a graphical model defining
conditional independence clauses among the dyads of the network, called the
dependency graph. Every network model with dyadic independence assumption can
be generalized to construct members of this new family. Using this new
framework, we generalize the Erd\"os-R\'enyi and beta-models to create
hierarchical Erd\"os-R\'enyi and beta-models. We describe various methods for
parameter estimation as well as simulation studies for models with sparse
dependency graphs.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure
A randomised trial comparing laparoscopy with laparotomy in the management of women with ruptured ectopic pregnancy
Background. Ruptured ectopic pregnancy (REP) is a common gynaecological emergency in resource-poor settings, where laparotomy is the standard treatment despite laparoscopic surgery being regarded as the optimal treatment. There is a lack of prospective randomised data comparing laparoscopic surgery with laparotomy in the surgical management of women with REP.Objective. To compare operative laparoscopy with laparotomy in women with REP.Methods. This was a randomised parallel study. One hundred and forty women with suspected REP were randomised to undergo operative laparoscopy or laparotomy. The outcome measures were operating time, hospital stay, pain scores and analgesic requirements, blood transfusion, time to return to work, and time to full recovery.Results. Operating time was significantly longer in the laparoscopy group (67.3 v. 30.5 minutes, p<0.001). Duration of hospital stay, pain scores and need for analgesia were significantly less in the laparoscopy group. Women in this group returned to work 8 days earlier and their time to full recovery was significantly shorter compared with those in the laparotomy group. Significantly more women undergoing laparotomy required blood transfusion than women in the laparoscopy group. In the latter group, 14.5% of women required blood transfusion compared with 26.5% in the laparotomy group (p=0.01).Conclusion. Operative laparoscopy in women treated for REP is feasible in a resource-poor setting and is associated with significantly less morbidity and a quicker return to economic activity
Phase I of the DiaVACCS screening trial: Study design, methods, population demographics and baseline results
Background. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-based primary screening guidelines are based on screening test performance and prevalence data generated in high-resource areas with low HIV infection rates. There is an urgent need for local data on infection and disease prevalence, as well as screening test performance, among both HIV-positive and HIV-negative South African (SA) women, in order to inform updated screening guidelines. Objectives. This study describes the baseline characteristics of participants in the cross-sectional phase of the multicentric DIAgnosis in Vaccine And Cervical Cancer Screen (DiaVACCS) screening trial. The objective was to determine the prevalence of positive screening and pre-invasive disease using different tests and strategies in the SA HIV-positive and HIV-negative population.Methods. A total of 1 104 women aged 25 - 65 years and eligible for screening were included, 465 HIV positive and 639 HIV negative. Visual inspection and molecular and cytological screening tests were done on self-sampled and healthcare worker-collected specimens. All participants who screened positive and 49.1% of those who screened negative were invited for colposcopy and biopsy, and those qualifying for treatment were recalled for large loop excision of the transformation zone as part of the trial. The worst histology result for each participant was used, and for untested women, multiple imputation was used to estimate verification biasadjusted histology values.Results. Visual inspection was positive in 50.4% of HIV-positive v. 20.9% of HIV-negative women, cytology (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance) in 39.9% v. 17.0%, and high-risk HPV DNA in 41.2% v. 19.6%. Overall, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion-positive cytology peaked in the age group 30 - 39 years at 16.7%. After adjustment for verification bias, histological diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)2+ was suspected in 44.7% v. 23.5% and CIN3+ in 23.3% v. 10.2% of HIV-positive and negative women, respectively. Invasive cancer was diagnosed in 15 women (1.95% of histological studies performed), and verification bias adjustment suggested 20 cases (1.8% of the study population).Conclusion. The baseline findings from the DiaVACCS trial confirm a high prevalence of HPV-related cervical pathology in the SA HIV-negative screening population, showing a clear need to reach these women with a screening programme. Among HIV-positive women, prevalence values were almost doubled. The prevalence of existing invasive cervical cancer was 1 - 2% of all women. Further analysis of the performance of single and multiple screening tests between the two subgroups will contribute to the choice of the most effective strategies to identify women at risk of developing invasive cancer
Evidence for strong f -d hybridization in intermetallic ferromagnet CePdIn2
Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract
Moving from atheoretical to theoretical approaches to interprofessional client-centred collaborative practice
In this chapter we revisit the importance of theory in the development of interprofessional client centred education and practice (IPCEP). We focus specifically on the theoretical underpinnings and development of a workshop model aimed at moving practitioners from atheoretical to theoretical collaborative practice
A randomised controlled trial comparing laparoscopy with laparotomy in the management of women with ruptured ectopic pregnancy
Letter by Odejinmi and Oliver on article by Snyman et al. (Snyman LC, Makulana T, Makin JD. A randomised trial comparing laparoscopy with laparotomy in the management of women with ruptured ectopic pregnancy. S Afr Med J 2017;107(3):258-263. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i3.11447); and response by Snyman et al
The Keldysh action of a multi-terminal time-dependent scatterer
We present a derivation of the Keldysh action of a general multi-channel
time-dependent scatterer in the context of the Landauer-B\"uttiker approach.
The action is a convenient building block in the theory of quantum transport.
This action is shown to take a compact form that only involves the scattering
matrix and reservoir Green functions. We derive two special cases of the
general result, one valid when reservoirs are characterized by well-defined
filling factors, the other when the scatterer connects two reservoirs. We
illustrate its use by considering Full Counting Statistics and the Fermi Edge
Singularity.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, submitted to PR
Coherent Stranski-Krastanov growth in 1+1 dimensions with anharmonic interactions: An equilibrium study
The formation of coherently strained three-dimensional islands on top of the
wetting layer in Stranski-Krastanov mode of growth is considered in a model in
1+1 dimensions accounting for the anharmonicity and non-convexity of the real
interatomic forces. It is shown that coherent 3D islands can be expected to
form in compressed rather than in expanded overlayers beyond a critical lattice
misfit. In the latter case the classical Stranski-Krastanov growth is expected
to occur because the misfit dislocations can become energetically favored at
smaller island sizes. The thermodynamic reason for coherent 3D islanding is the
incomplete wetting owing to the weaker adhesion of the edge atoms. Monolayer
height islands with a critical size appear as necessary precursors of the 3D
islands. The latter explains the experimentally observed narrow size
distribution of the 3D islands. The 2D-3D transformation takes place by
consecutive rearrangements of mono- to bilayer, bi- to trilayer islands, etc.,
after exceeding the corresponding critical sizes. The rearrangements are
initiated by nucleation events each next one requiring to overcome a lower
energetic barrier. The model is in good qualitative agreement with available
experimental observations.Comment: 12 pages text, 15 figures, Accepted in Phys.Rev.B, Vol.61, No2
- …