Long-Term Followup after Electrocautery Transurethral Resection of the Prostate for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Introduction. For decades, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has been the “gold standard” operation for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) but is based mainly on historic data. The historic data lacks use of validated measures and current TURP differs significantly from that performed 30 years ago. Methods. Men who had undergone TURP between 2001 and 2005 were reviewed. International prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) and peak urinary flow rate (Qmax⁡), and postvoid residual (PVR) were recorded. Operative details and postoperative complications were documented. Patients were then invited to attend for repeat assessment. Results. 91 patients participated. Mean follow-up time was 70 months. Mean follow-up results were IPSS—7; QoL—1.5; Qmax⁡—23 mL/s; PVR—45 mL. These were an improvement from baseline of 67%, 63%, 187%, and 80%, respectively. Early complication rates were low, with no blood transfusions, TUR syndrome, or deaths occurring. Urethral stricture rate was higher than anticipated at 14%. Conclusion. This study shows modern TURP still produces durable improvement in voiding symptoms which remains comparable with historic studies. This study, however, found a marked drop in early complications but, conversely, a higher than expected incidence of urethral strictures

Ground-state electric quadrupole moment of 31Al

Ground-state electric quadrupole moment of 31Al (I =5/2+, T_1/2 = 644(25) ms) has been measured by means of the beta-NMR spectroscopy using a spin-polarized 31Al beam produced in the projectile fragmentation reaction. The obtained Q moment, |Q_exp(31Al)| = 112(32)emb, are in agreement with conventional shell model calculations within the sd valence space. Previous result on the magnetic moment also supports the validity of the sd model in this isotope, and thus it is concluded that 31Al is located outside of the island of inversion.Comment: 5 page

Effects of pressure on the ferromagnetic state of the CDW compound SmNiC2

We report the pressure response of charge-density-wave (CDW) and ferromagnetic (FM) phases of the rare-earth intermetallic SmNiC2 up to 5.5 GPa. The CDW transition temperature (T_{CDW}), which is reflected as a sharp inflection in the electrical resistivity, is almost independent of pressure up to 2.18 GPa but is strongly enhanced at higher pressures, increasing from 155.7 K at 2.2 GPa to 279.3 K at 5.5 GPa. Commensurate with the sharp increase in T_{CDW}, the first-order FM phase transition, which decreases with applied pressure, bifurcates into the upper (T_{M1}) and lower (T_c) phase transitions and the lower transition changes its nature to second order above 2.18 GPa. Enhancement both in the residual resistivity and the Fermi-liquid T^2 coefficient A near 3.8 GPa suggests abundant magnetic quantum fluctuations that arise from the possible presence of a FM quantum critical point.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Charge states and magnetic ordering in LaMnO3/SrTiO3 superlattices

We investigated the magnetic and optical properties of [(LaMnO3)n/(SrTiO3)8]20 (n = 1, 2, and 8) superlattices grown by pulsed laser deposition. We found a weak ferromagnetic and semiconducting state developed in all superlattices. An analysis of the optical conductivity showed that the LaMnO3 layers in the superlattices were slightly doped. The amount of doping was almost identical regardless of the LaMnO3 layer thickness up to eight unit cells, suggesting that the effect is not limited to the interface. On the other hand, the magnetic ordering became less stable as the LaMnO3 layer thickness decreased, probably due to a dimensional effect.Comment: 17 pages including 4 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Evidence of metallic clustering in annealed Ga1-xMnxAs from atypical scaling behavior of the anomalous Hall coefficient

We report on the anomalous Hall coefficient and longitudinal resistivity scaling relationships on a series of annealed Ga1-xMnxAs epilayers (x~0.055). As-grown samples exhibit scaling parameter n of ~ 1. Near the optimal annealing temperature, we find n ~ 2 to be consistent with recent theories on the intrinsic origins of anomalous Hall Effect in Ga1-xMnxAs. For annealing temperatures far above the optimum, we note n > 3, similar behavior to certain inhomogeneous systems. This observation of atypical behavior agrees well with characteristic features attributable to spherical resonance from metallic inclusions from optical spectroscopy measurements.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Efficiency of Energy Transduction in a Molecular Chemical Engine

A simple model of the two-state ratchet type is proposed for molecular chemical engines that convert chemical free energy into mechanical work and vice versa. The engine works by catalyzing a chemical reaction and turning a rotor. Analytical expressions are obtained for the dependences of rotation and reaction rates on the concentrations of reactant and product molecules, from which the performance of the engine is analyzed. In particular, the efficiency of energy transduction is discussed in some detail.Comment: 4 pages, 4 fugures; title modified, figures 2 and 3 modified, content changed (pages 1 and 4, mainly), references adde