Use of the painDETECT tool in rheumatoid arthritis suggests neuropathic and sensitization components in pain reporting.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune condition typified by systemic inflammation targeted toward synovial joints. Inhibition of proinflammatory networks by disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, eg, methotrexate and biologic therapies, including tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors, often leads to suppression of disease activity observed at the clinical level. However, despite the era of widespread use of disease-modifying treatments, there remain significant groups of patients who continue to experience pain. Our study formulated a pain assessment tool in the arthritis clinic to assess feasibility of measurements including the visual analog scale (VAS) and painDETECT to assess multimodal features of pain in people with established RA (n=100). Clinical measures of disease activity (Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints [DAS28]) were also recorded. Our data showed that despite the majority of subjects on at least one disease-modifying agent, the majority of patients reported severe pain (54%) by VAS, despite well-controlled clinical disease, with mean DAS28 2.07±0.9. Using the painDETECT questionnaire, 67% of patients had unlikely neuropathic pain. A significant proportion of subjects (28%) had possible neuropathic pain and 5% had features of likely neuropathic pain by painDETECT scoring. We found a positive correlation between VAS and painDETECT (R (2)=0.757). Of note, the group who had likely or probable neuropathic pain also showed significantly increased pain reporting by VAS (P30) also had statistically higher proportions of pain reporting (VAS 89.0±0.7 mm) compared with subjects who had a normal body mass index (VAS 45.2±21.8 mm), P<0.05. Our findings suggest that multimodal features of pain perception exist in RA, including neuropathic and sensitization elements, perhaps explaining why a subgroup of people with RA continue to experience ongoing pain, despite their apparent suppression of inflammation

On the enigmatic Λ\Lambda - a true constant of spacetime

Had Einstein followed the Bianchi differential identity for the derivation of his equation of motion for gravitation, $\Lambda$ would have emerged as a true new constant of spacetime on the same footing as the velocity of light? It is then conceivable that he could have perhaps made the most profound prediction that the Universe may suffer accelerated expansion some time in the future! Further we argue that its identification with the quantum vacuum energy is not valid as it should have to be accounted for like the gravitational field energy by enlarging the basic framework of spacetime and not through a stress tensor. The acceleration of the expansion of the Universe may indeed be measuring its value for the first time observationally.Comment: 4 pages, a comprehensive revision with much refinement and new insights, more references adde

Relation between the neutrino and quark mixing angles and grand unification

We argue that there exists simple relation between the quark and lepton mixings which supports the idea of grand unification and probes the underlying robust bi-maximal fermion mixing structure of still unknown flavor physics. In this framework the quark mixing matrix is a parameter matrix describing the deviation of neutrino mixing from exactly bi-maximal, predicting theta_{sol}+theta_C=pi/4, where theta_C is the Cabibbo angle, theta_{atm}+theta_{23}^{CKM}=pi/4 and theta_{13}^{MNS} ~ theta_{13}^{CKM} ~ O(lambda^3), in a perfect agreement with experimental data. Both non-Abelian and Abelian flavor symmetries are needed for such a prediction to be realistic. An example flavor model capable to explain this flavor mixing pattern, and to induce the measured quark and lepton masses, is outlined.Comment: references added, title changed in journa

Diffractive deeply inelastic scattering of hadronic states with small transverse size

Diffractive deeply inelastic scattering from a hadron is described in terms of diffractive quark and gluon distributions. If the transverse size of the hadronic state is sufficiently small, these distributions are calculable using perturbation theory. We present such a calculation and discuss the underlying dynamics. We comment on the relation between this dynamics and the pattern of scaling violation observed in the hard diffraction of large-size states at HERA.Comment: 8 pages including 3 figures, REVTE

Mechanical Properties of Carbon/Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Rubber-Modified Epoxy System

Epoxies as a thermoset polymer have gained a considerable attention in structural, electrical, and marine applications. To widen their usage and overcome their brittleness, many polymers were blended with it. The addition of Polysulfide rubber helps in increasing the impact resistance of Epoxy, while in the other hand; it reduces strength , modulus, hardness and creep resistance. That leads to the need for another material to compensate the reduction in these properties. Carbon, polypropylene as an inorganic and polymeric short fibers with their exceptional and different mechanical properties will compensate many drawbacks of polysulfide addition in enhancing mechanical properties. The composite material with Epoxy-Polysulfide matrix properties were evaluated by conducting the mechanical tests which include compression test, hardness test, impact resistance test. The fracture surface of composite impact specimens was observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM on all designed experimental samples. Elongation and impact strength of epoxy- polysulfide blend were found to increase with increasing rubber content while compressive strength and modulus decrease. The influence of fiber adding on the mechanical properties of the composite was studied , the mechanical properties of the blend matrix were found to be better than those of the pure epoxy. The morphology of the fractured surfaces showed significant signs of plastic deformation such as shear bands, high deformation, and cavitations due to rubber addition, and this correlates well with mechanical properties which resulted in an increase in toughness of the composites when rubber content was increased. The results of this investigation clearly show the possibility of balancing strength and toughness of the material when adding rubber, fiber to epoxy. Results of compression test showed that the compressive strength decreases as Polysulfide percentage (PS) increase. While the carbon fiber addition helped in balance or overcomes the original compressive strength reduction up to 30 vol.%. of fiber. The results confirmed that the best modification is the addition of 6% polysulfide considering compressive strength, Impact and hardness. While 20% carbon fiber and 30% Polypropylene fiber gives the optimum mechanical properties in compression and Impact, respectively, for the composite samples. Keywords: Epoxy resin, Liquid rubber, Mechanical properties

Neutrino Experiments: Status, Recent Progress, and Prospects

Neutrino physics has seen an explosion of activity and new results in the last decade. In this report the current state of the field is summarized, with a particular focus on progress in the last two years. Prospects for the near term (roughly 5 years) are also described.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, proceedings of plenary talk at EPS HEP 2007 Conference, Manchester, UK. Updated with citation added to Figure 1

Bound-States of the Spinless Salpeter Equation for the PT-Symmetric Generalized Hulthen Potential by the Nikiforov-Uvarov Method

The one-dimensional spinless Salpeter equation has been solved for the PT-symmetric generalized Hulth\'{e}n potential. The Nikiforov-Uvarov {NU) method which is based on solving the second-order linear differential equations by reduction to a generalized equation of hypergeometric type is used to obtain exact energy eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions. We have investigated the positive and negative exact bound states of the s-states for different types of complex generalized Hulthen potentials.Comment: 24 page

Possible influence of the two string events on the hadron formation in a nuclear environment

One of the basic assumptions of the string model is that as a result of a DIS in nucleus a single string arises, which then breaks into hadrons. However the pomeron exchange considered in this work, leads to the production of two strings in the one event. The hadrons produced in these events have smaller formation lengths, than those with the same energy produced in the single string events. As a consequence, they undergo more substantial absorption in the nuclear matter

Fabrication of Lateral Polysilicon Gap of Less than 50nm Using Conventional Lithography

We report a thermal oxidation process for the fabrication of nanogaps of less than 50 nmin dimension.Nanogaps of this dimension are necessary to eliminate contributions from double-layer capacitance in the dielectric detection of protein or nucleic acid. The method combines conventional photolithography and pattern-size reduction techniques. The gaps are fabricated on polysiliconcoated silicon substrate with gold electrodes. The dimensions of the structure are determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An electrical characterization of the structures by dielectric analyzer (DA) shows an improved conductivity as well as enhanced permittivity and capacity with the reduction of gap size, suggesting its potential applications in the detection of biomolecule with very low level of power supply. Two chrome Masks are used to complete the work: the first Mask is for the nanogap pattern and the second one is for the electrodes. An improved resolution of pattern size is obtained by controlling the oxidation time. The method expected to enable fabrication of nanogaps with a wide ranging designs and dimensions on different substrates. It is a simple and cost-effective method and does not require complicated nanolithography process for fabricating desired nanogaps in a reproducible fashion

Evaluation of two mobile health apps in the context of smoking cessation: qualitative study of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) versus non-CBT-based digital solutions.

BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) apps can offer users numerous benefits, representing a feasible and acceptable means of administering health interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is commonly used in the treatment of mental health conditions, where it has a strong evidence base, suggesting that it represents an effective method to elicit health behavior change. More importantly, CBT has proved to be effective in smoking cessation, in the context of smoking-related costs to the National Health Service (NHS) having been estimated to be as high as £2.6bn in 2015. Although the evidence base for computerized CBT in mental health is strong, there is limited literature on its use in smoking cessation. This, combined with the cost-effectiveness of mHealth interventions, advocates a need for research into the effectiveness of CBT-based smoking cessation apps. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was, first, to explore participants' perceptions of 2 mHealth apps, a CBT-based app, Quit Genius, and a non-CBT-based app, NHS Smokefree, over a variety of themes. Second, the study aimed to investigate the perceptions and health behavior of users of each app with respect to smoking cessation. METHODS: A qualitative short-term longitudinal study was conducted, using a sample of 29 smokers allocated to one of the 2 apps, Quit Genius or Smokefree. Each user underwent 2 one-to-one semistructured interviews, 1 week apart. Thematic analysis was carried out, and important themes were identified. Descriptive statistics regarding participants' perceptions and health behavior in relation to smoking cessation are also provided. RESULTS: The thematic analysis resulted in five higher themes and several subthemes. Participants were generally more positive about Quit Genius's features, as well as about its design and information engagement and quality. Quit Genius users reported increased motivation to quit smoking, as well as greater willingness to continue using their allocated app after 1 week. Moreover, these participants demonstrated preliminary changes in their smoking behavior, although this was in the context of our limited sample, not yet allowing for the finding to be generalizable. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the use of CBT in the context of mHealth apps as a feasible and potentially effective smoking cessation tool. mHealth apps must be well developed, preferably with an underlying behavioral change mechanism, to promote positive health behavior change. Digital CBT has the potential to become a powerful tool in overcoming current health care challenges. The present results should be replicated in a wider sample using the apps for a longer period so as to allow for generalizability. Further research is also needed to focus on the effect of greater personalization on behavioral change and on understanding the psychological barriers to the adoption of new mHealth solutions