On the density-potential mapping in time-dependent density functional theory

The key questions of uniqueness and existence in time-dependent density functional theory are usually formulated only for potentials and densities that are analytic in time. Simple examples, standard in quantum mechanics, lead however to non-analyticities. We reformulate these questions in terms of a non-linear Schr\"odinger equation with a potential that depends non-locally on the wavefunction.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure

Presentations of major peripheral arterial disease and risk of major outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes: results from the ADVANCE-ON study.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is known to be associated with high cardiovascular risk, but the individual impact of PAD presentations on risk of macrovascular and microvascular events has not been reliably compared in patients with type 2 diabetes. We aimed to evaluate the impact of major PAD, and its different presentations, on the 10-year risk of death, major macrovascular events, and major clinical microvascular events in these patients. METHODS: Participants in the action in diabetes and vascular disease: PreterAx and DiamicroN modified-release controlled evaluation (ADVANCE) trial and the ADVANCE-ON post-trial study were followed for a median of 5.0 (in-trial), 5.4 (post-trial), and 9.9 (overall) years. Major PAD at baseline was subdivided into lower-extremity chronic ulceration or amputation secondary to vascular disease and history of peripheral revascularization by angioplasty or surgery. RESULTS: Among 11,140 participants, 516 (4.6 %) had major PAD at baseline: 300 (2.7 %) had lower-extremity ulceration or amputation alone, 190 (1.7 %) had peripheral revascularization alone, and 26 (0.2 %) had both presentations. All-cause mortality, major macrovascular events, and major clinical microvascular events occurred in 2265 (20.3 %), 2166 (19.4 %), and 807 (7.2 %) participants, respectively. Compared to those without PAD, patients with major PAD had increased rates of all-cause mortality (HR 1.35, 95 % CI 1.15-1.60, p = 0.0004), and major macrovascular events (1.47 [1.23-1.75], p < 0.0001), after multiple adjustments for region of origin, cardiovascular risk factors and treatments, peripheral neuropathy markers, and randomized treatments. We have also observed a trend toward an association of baseline PAD with risk of major clinical microvascular events [1.31 (0.96-1.78), p = 0.09]. These associations were comparable for patients with a lower-extremity ulceration or amputation and for those with a history of peripheral revascularization. Furthermore, the risk of retinal photocoagulation or blindness, but not renal events, increased in patients with lower-extremity ulceration or amputation [1.53 (1.01-2.30), p = 0.04]. CONCLUSIONS: Lower-extremity ulceration or amputation, and peripheral revascularization both increased the risks of death and cardiovascular events, but only lower-extremity ulceration or amputation increased the risk of severe retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Screening for major PAD and its management remain crucial for cardiovascular prevention in patients with type 2 diabetes (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00949286)

Clinical Utility of Short-Term Blood Pressure Measures to Inform Long-Term Blood Pressure Management

Background: Decisions about hypertension management are substantially influenced by blood pressure (BP) levels measured before and soon after starting BP lowering drugs. We aimed to assess the utility of short-term BP changes in individuals in terms of long-term treatment response. Methods: Post hoc analyses of 2 randomized trials with 4-to-6 weeks active run-in for all participants, followed by randomization to active BP lowering treatment (combination perindopril±indapamide) or placebo. We categorized individuals by degree of systolic BP (SBP) change during active run-in treatment and assessed associations with subsequent postrandomization placebo-corrected BP reduction, cardiovascular events, and tolerability. We included individuals with baseline BP ≥140/90 mm Hg from the PROGRESS trial (Perindopril Protection Against Recurrent Stroke Study; 4275 individuals with cerebrovascular disease) and ADVANCE trial (The Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron-MR Controlled Evaluation; 6610 individuals with diabetes). Results: During the active run-in period, the proportion of participants with initial SBP changes in 4 categories (SBP increase, 0-9.9 mm Hg decrease, 10-19.9 mm Hg decrease, and ≥20 mm Hg decrease) were 17%, 27%, 28%, and 28% in PROGRESS and 21%, 22%, 24%, and 33% in ADVANCE. Randomization to active therapy achieved similar placebo-corrected long-term BP reductions across the 4 initial SBP change groups in both trials (P-values for heterogeneity >0.1). There was no significant difference in achieving BP 0.1). Conclusions: An individual's apparent BP change immediately after commencing therapy has limited clinical utility. Therefore, more emphasis should be given to use of evidence-based regimens and measures over the long-term to ensure sustained BP control. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00145925

Identifying Very Preterm Children at Educational Risk Using a School Readiness Framework

OBJECTIVES: Children born very preterm (VPT) are at high risk of educational delay, yet few guidelines exist for the early identification of those at greatest risk. Using a school readiness framework, this study examined relations between preschool neuro-developmental functioning and educational outcomes to age 9 years.METHODS: The sample consisted of a regional cohort of 110 VPT (≤32 weeks' gestation) and 113 full-term children born during 1998-2000. At corrected age 4 years, children completed a multidisciplinary assessment of their health/motor development, socioemotional adjustment, core learning skills, language, and general cognition. At ages 6 and 9, children's literacy and numeracy skills were assessed using the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement.RESULTS: Across all readiness domains, VPT children were at high risk of delay/impairment (odds ratios 2.5-3.5). Multiple problems were also more common (47% vs 16%). At follow-up, almost two-thirds of VPT children were subject to significant educational delay in either literacy, numeracy or both compared with 29% to 31% of full-term children (odds ratios 3.4-4.4). The number of readiness domains affected at age 4 strongly predicted later educational risk, especially when multiple problems were present. Receiver operating characteristic analysis confirmed ≥2 readiness problems as the optimal threshold for identifying VPT children at educational risk.CONCLUSIONS: School readiness offers a promising framework for the early identification of VPT children at high educational risk. Findings support the utility of ≥2 affected readiness domains as an effective criterion for referral for educational surveillance and/or additional support during the transition to school.</p

Swift detection of the super-swift switch-on of the super-soft phase in nova V745 Sco (2014)

V745 Sco is a recurrent nova, with the most recent eruption occurring in February 2014. V745 Sco was first observed by Swift a mere 3.7 hr after the announcement of the optical discovery, with the super-soft X-ray emission being detected around four days later and lasting for only ~two days, making it both the fastest follow-up of a nova by Swift and the earliest switch-on of super-soft emission yet detected. Such an early switch-on time suggests a combination of a very high velocity outflow and low ejected mass and, together with the high effective temperature reached by the super-soft emission, a high mass white dwarf (>1.3 M_sun). The X-ray spectral evolution was followed from an early epoch where shocked emission was evident, through the entirety of the super-soft phase, showing evolving column density, emission lines, absorption edges and thermal continuum temperature. UV grism data were also obtained throughout the super-soft interval, with the spectra showing mainly emission lines from lower ionization transitions and the Balmer continuum in emission. V745 Sco is compared with both V2491 Cyg (another nova with a very short super-soft phase) and M31N 2008-12a (the most rapidly recurring nova yet discovered). The longer recurrence time compared to M31N 2008-12a could be due to a lower mass accretion rate, although inclination of the system may also play a part. Nova V745 Sco (2014) revealed the fastest evolving super-soft source phase yet discovered, providing a detailed and informative dataset for study.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures (4 in colour), accepted for publication in MNRA

Raman and nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of alkali metal vapor interaction with alkene-based anti-relaxation coating

The use of anti-relaxation coatings in alkali vapor cells yields substantial performance improvements by reducing the probability of spin relaxation in wall collisions by several orders of magnitude. Some of the most effective anti-relaxation coating materials are alpha-olefins, which (as in the case of more traditional paraffin coatings) must undergo a curing period after cell manufacturing in order to achieve the desired behavior. Until now, however, it has been unclear what physicochemical processes occur during cell curing, and how they may affect relevant cell properties. We present the results of nondestructive Raman-spectroscopy and magnetic-resonance investigations of the influence of alkali metal vapor (Cs or K) on an alpha-olefin, 1-nonadecene coating the inner surface of a glass cell. It was found that during the curing process, the alkali metal catalyzes migration of the carbon-carbon double bond, yielding a mixture of cis- and trans-2-nonadecene.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Real-world performance and accuracy of stress echocardiography: The EVAREST observational multi-centre study

Aims - Stress echocardiography is widely used to identify obstructive coronary artery disease. High accuracy is reported in expert hands but is dependent on operator training and image quality. The EVAREST study provides UK-wide data to evaluate real-world performance and accuracy of stress echocardiography. Methods and Results - Participants undergoing stress echocardiography for coronary artery disease were recruited from 31 hospitals. Participants were followed up through health records which underwent expert adjudication. Cardiac outcome was defined as anatomically or functionally-significant stenosis on angiography, revascularisation, medical management of ischaemia, acute coronary syndrome or cardiac-related death within six months. 5131 patients (55% male) participated with a median age of 65 years (IQR 57 – 74). 72.9% of studies used dobutamine and 68.5% were contrast studies. Inducible ischaemia was present in 19.3% of scans. Sensitivity and specificity for prediction of a cardiac outcome were 95.4% and 96.0%, respectively, with an accuracy of 95.9%. Sub-group analysis revealed high levels of predictive accuracy across a wide range of patient and protocol sub-groups, with the presence of a resting regional wall motion abnormalitiy significantly reducing the performance of both dobutamine (p<0.01) and exercise (p<0.05) stress echocardiography (p<0.05). Overall accuracy remained consistently high across all participating hospitals. Conclusion – Stress echocardiography has high accuracy across UK-based hospitals and thus indicates stress echocardiography is being delivered effectively in real-world practice, reinforcing its role as a first-line investigation in the assessment of patients with stable chest pain