237 research outputs found
Forward Modeling of Space-borne Gravitational Wave Detectors
Planning is underway for several space-borne gravitational wave observatories
to be built in the next ten to twenty years. Realistic and efficient forward
modeling will play a key role in the design and operation of these
observatories. Space-borne interferometric gravitational wave detectors operate
very differently from their ground based counterparts. Complex orbital motion,
virtual interferometry, and finite size effects complicate the description of
space-based systems, while nonlinear control systems complicate the description
of ground based systems. Here we explore the forward modeling of space-based
gravitational wave detectors and introduce an adiabatic approximation to the
detector response that significantly extends the range of the standard low
frequency approximation. The adiabatic approximation will aid in the
development of data analysis techniques, and improve the modeling of
astrophysical parameter extraction.Comment: 14 Pages, 14 Figures, RevTex
Phase separation in star polymer-colloid mixtures
We examine the demixing transition in star polymer-colloid mixtures for star
arm numbers f=2,6,16,32 and different star-colloid size ratios. Theoretically,
we solve the thermodynamically self-consistent Rogers-Young integral equations
for binary mixtures using three effective pair potentials obtained from direct
molecular computer simulations. The numerical results show a spinodal
instability. The demixing binodals are approximately calculated, and found to
be consistent with experimental observations.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR
Using the Wigner-Ibach Surmise to Analyze Terrace-Width Distributions: History, User's Guide, and Advances
A history is given of the applications of the simple expression generalized
from the surmise by Wigner and also by Ibach to extract the strength of the
interaction between steps on a vicinal surface, via the terrace width
distribution (TWD). A concise guide for use with experiments and a summary of
some recent extensions are provided.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, reformatted (with revtex) version of refereed
paper for special issue of Applied Physics A entitled "From Surface Science
to Device Physics", in honor of the retirements of Prof. H. Ibach and Prof.
H. L\"ut
Evaluating the Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Seizure Dogs in Persons With Medically Refractory Epilepsy in the Netherlands
__Background:__ Epilepsy is associated with a high disease burden, impacting the lives of
people with epilepsy and their caregivers and family. Persons with medically refractory
epilepsy experience the greatest burden, suffering from profound physical, psychological,
and social consequences. Anecdotal evidence suggests these persons may benefit
from a seizure dog. As the training of a seizure dog is a substantial investment,
their accessibility is limited in the absence of collective reimbursement as is seen
in the Netherlands. Despite sustained interest in seizure dogs, scientific knowledge
on their benefits and costs remains scarce. To substantiate reimbursement decisions
stronger evidence is required. The EPISODE study aims to provide this evidence
by evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of seizure dogs in adults with
medically refractory epilepsy.
__Methods:__ The study is designed as a stepped wedge randomized controlled trial that
compares the use of seizure dogs in addition to usual care, with usual care alone. The
study includes adults with epilepsy for whom current treatment options failed to achieve
seizure freedom. Seizure frequency of participants should be at least two seizures per
week, and the seizures should be associated with a high risk of injury or dysfunction.
During the 3 year follow-up period, participants receive a seizure dog in a randomized
order. Outcome measures are taken at multiple time points both before and after receiving
the seizure dog. Seizure frequency is the primary outcome of the study and will be
recorded continuously using a seizure diary. Questionnaires measuring seizure severity,
quality of life, well-being, resource use, productivity, social participation, and caregiver
burden will be completed at baseline and every 3 months thereafter. The study is
designed to include a minimum of 25 participants.
__Discussion:__ This protocol describes the first randomized controlled trial on seizure
dogs. The study will provide comprehensive data on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness
of seizure dogs in adults with medically refractory epilepsy. Broader benefits
of seizure dogs for persons with epilepsy and their caregivers are taken into account,
as well as the welfare of the dogs. The findings of the study can be used to inform
decision-makers on the reimbursement of seizure dogs
17-OHPC to Prevent Recurrent Preterm Birth in Singleton Gestations (PROLONG Study): A Multicenter, International, Randomized Double-Blind Trial
Background âwomen with a history of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) are at a significantly increased risk for recurrent preterm birth (PTB). To date, only one large U.S. clinical trial comparing 17-OHPC (17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate or 17P) to placebo has been published, and this trial was stopped early due to a large treatment benefit. Objective âThis study aimed to assess whether 17-OHPC decreases recurrent PTB and neonatal morbidity in women with a prior SPTB in a singleton gestation. Study Design âThis was a double-blind, placebo-controlled international trial involving women with a previous singleton SPTB (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT 01004029). Women were enrolled at 93 clinical centers (41 in the United States and 52 outside the United States) between 16 0/7 to 20 6/7 weeks in a 2:1 ratio, to receive either weekly intramuscular (IM) injections of 250 mg of 17-OHPC or an inert oil placebo; treatment was continued until delivery or 36 weeks. Co-primary outcomes were PTB < 35 weeks and a neonatal morbidity composite index. The composite included any of the following: Neonatal death, grade 3 or 4 intraventricular hemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, or proven sepsis. A planned sample size of 1,707 patients was estimated to provide 98% power to detect a 30% reduction in PTB < 35 weeks (30% to 21%) and 90% power to detect a 35% reduction in neonatal composite index (17%-11%) using a two-sided type-I error of 5%. Finally, this sample size would also provide 82.8% power to rule out a doubling in the risk of fetal/early infant death assuming a 4% fetal/early infant death rate. Analysis was performed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Results âaseline characteristics between the 1,130 women who received 17-OHPC and 578 women who received placebo were similar. Overall, 87% of enrolled women were Caucasian, 12% had >1 prior SPTB, 7% smoked cigarettes, and 89% were married/lived with partner. Prior to receiving study drug, 73% women had a transvaginal cervical length measurement performed and <2% had cervical shortening <25 mm. There were no significant differences in the frequency of PTB < 35 weeks (17-OHPC 11.0% vs. placebo 11.5%; relative risk = 0.95 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71-1.26]) or neonatal morbidity index (17-OHPC 5.6% vs. placebo 5.0%; relative risk = 1.12 [95% CI: 0.68-1.61]). There were also no differences in frequency of fetal/early infant death (17-OHPC 1.7% vs. placebo 1.9%; relative risk = 0.87 [95% CI: 0.4-1.81]. Maternal outcomes were also similar. In the subgroup of women enrolled in the United States (n = 391; 23% of all patients), although the rate of PTB < 35 weeks was higher than the overall study population, there were no statistically significant differences between groups (15.6% vs. 17.6%; relative risk = 0.88 [95% CI: 0.55, 1.40]. Conclusion âin this study population, 17-OHPC did not decrease recurrent PTB and was not associated with increased fetal/early infant death
Physical activity attenuates the influence of FTO variants on obesity risk: A meta-analysis of 218,166 adults and 19,268 children
Background: The FTO gene harbors the strongest known susceptibility locus for obesity. While many individual studies have suggested that physical activity (PA) may attenuate the effect of FTO on obesity risk, other studies have not been able to confirm this interaction. To confirm or refute unambiguously whether PA attenuates the association of FTO with obesity risk, we meta-analyzed data from 45 studies of adults (n = 218,166) and nine studies of children and adolescents (n = 19,268). Methods and Findings: All studies identified to have data on the FTO rs9939609 variant (or any proxy [r2>0.8]) and PA were invited to participate, regardless of ethnicity or age of the participants. PA was standardized by categorizing it into a dichotomous variable (physically inactive versus active) in each study. Overall, 25% of adults and 13% of children were categorized as inactive. Interaction analyses were performed within each study by including the FTO×PA interaction term in an additive model, adjusting for age and sex. Subsequently, random effects meta-analysis was used to pool the interaction terms. In adults, the minor (A-) allele of rs9939609 increased the odds of obesity by 1.23-fold/allele (95% CI 1.20-1.26), but PA attenuated this effect (pinteraction= 0.001). More specifically, the minor allele of rs9939609 increased the odds of obesity less in the physically active group (odds ratio = 1.22/allele, 95% CI 1.19-1.25) than in the inactive group (odds ratio = 1.30/allele, 95% CI 1.24-1.36). No such interaction was found in children and adolescents. Concl
ARIA 2016: Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle
The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma a
Quality indicators for patients with traumatic brain injury in European intensive care units
Background: The aim of this study is to validate a previously published consensus-based quality indicator set for the management of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) at intensive care units (ICUs) in Europe and to study its potential for quality measur
- …