782 research outputs found
The influence of the strength of bone on the deformation of acetabular shells : a laboratory experiment in cadavers
Date of Acceptance: 24/08/2014 ©2015 The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery. The authors would like to thank N. Taylor (3D Measurement Company) for his work with regard to data acquisition and processing of experimental data. We would also like to thank Dr A. Blain of Newcastle University for performing the statistical analysis The research was supported by the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre. The authors P. Dold, M. Flohr and R. Preuss are employed by Ceramtec GmbH. Martin Bone received a salary from the joint fund. The author or one or more of the authors have received or will receive benefits for personal or professional use from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article. This article was primary edited by G. Scott and first proof edited by J. Scott.Peer reviewedPostprin
A survey of the treatment and management of patients with severe chronic spontaneous urticaria.
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is characterized by the recurrent appearance of weals, angioâoedema or both, occurring at least twice weekly for longer than 6 weeks.1 It is often managed with antihistamines, but occasionally requires other systemic agents in recalcitrant cases.
A crossâsectional survey was conducted by means of an internetâbased survey tool (Typeform; https://www.typeform.com). Participating consultants with a specialist interest in urticaria were identified through the specialist registers of the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI), the Improving Quality in Allergy Services (IQAS) Group and the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), and invited to take part.
The survey content was based on current CSU treatment guidelines from EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO1 and the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI).2 The EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines are a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN) (a European Unionâfunded network of excellence), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), and the World Allergy Organization (WAO). To standardize responses, all participants were presented with a case of recalcitrant CSU (failed on maximum dose of nonsedating antihistamines and montelukast), requiring alternative systemic treatment. Questions covered usage of systemic treatments, routine disease severity assessments, adherence to treatment guidelines and perceived barriers to prescribing.
Responses (Table 1) were received from 19 UK consultants (26 surveys sent; completion rate 73%), 15 of whom had > 10 yearsâ experience in the treatment of CSU. The majority were allergy (58%) and dermatology consultants (37%). Of the 19 consultants, 56% provide a dedicated urticaria service, 37% treat both adult and paediatric patients, and the majority (79%) use systemic medications other than antihistamines and montelukast. Omalizumab and ciclosporin were the most commonly used firstâline agents (47% and 27% respectively) (Fig. 1). The majority (84%) of consultants use validated measures to assess disease severity, including the weekly Urticaria Activity Score (UASâ7, 63%), the Physician Global Assessment (63%), the Patient Global Assessment (44%) and the Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) (38%). Guidelines are used by 89% to direct their management of CSU, with 50% using the EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guideline,1 compared with 31% primarily using the BSACI guideline.2 The main perceived barriers to prescribing systemic medications were potential adverse effects (AEs) (32% strongly agreed), potential longâterm toxicity (26% strongly agreed), cost of treatment (42% strongly agreed), and views expressed by the patient and their family (37% agreed)
Impurity intrusion in radio-frequency micro-plasma jets operated in ambient air
Space and time resolved concentrations of helium metastable atoms in an
atmospheric pressure radio-frequency micro-plasma jet were measured using
tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. Spatial profiles as well as
lifetime measurements show significant influences of air entering the discharge
from the front nozzle and of impurities originating from the gas supply system.
Quenching of metastables was used to deduce quantitative concentrations of
intruding impurities. The impurity profile along the jet axis was determined
from optical emission spectroscopy as well as their dependance on the feed gas
flow through the jet.Comment: Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics (accepted), 6 page
Argon metastable dynamics in a filamentary jet micro-discharge at atmospheric pressure
Space and time resolved concentrations of Ar () metastable atoms at
the exit of an atmospheric pressure radio-frequency micro-plasma jet were
measured using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. The discharge
features a coaxial geometry with a hollow capillary as an inner electrode and a
ceramic tube with metal ring as outer electrode. Absorption profiles of
metastable atoms as well as optical emission measurements reveal the dynamics
and the filamentary structure of the discharge. The average spatial
distribution of Ar metastables is characterized with and without a target in
front of the jet, showing that the target potential and therewith the electric
field distribution substantially changes the filaments' expansion. Together
with the detailed analysis of the ignition phase and the discharge's behavior
under pulsed operation, the results give an insight into the excitation and
de-excitation mechanisms
How to write a Critically Appraised Topic: evidence to underpin routine clinical practice
Critically appraised topics (CATs) are essential tools for busy clinicians who wish to ensure that their daily clinical practice is underpinned by evidence-based medicine. CATs are short summaries of the most up-to-date, high-quality available evidence that is found using thorough structured methods. They can be used to answer specific, patient-orientated questions that arise recurrently in real-life practice. This article provides readers with a detailed guide to performing their own CATs. It is split into four main sections reflecting the four main steps involved in performing a CAT: formulation of a focused question, a search for the most relevant and highest-quality evidence, critical appraisal of the evidence and application of the results back to the patient scenario. As well as helping to improve patient care on an individual basis by answering specific clinical questions that arise, CATs can help spread and share knowledge with colleagues on an international level through publication in the evidence-based dermatology section of the British Journal of Dermatolog
H2-powered aviation at airports â Design and economics of LH2 refueling systems
In this paper, the broader perspective of green hydrogen (H2) supply and refueling systems for aircraft is provided as an enabling technology brick for more climate friendly, H2-powered aviation. For this, two H2 demand scenarios at exemplary airports are determined for 2050. Then, general requirements for liquid hydrogen (LH2) refueling setups in an airport environment are derived and techno-economic models for LH2 storage, liquefaction and transportation to the aircraft are designed. Finally, a cost trade-off study is undertaken for the design of the LH2 setup including LH2 refueling trucks and a LH2 pipeline and hydrant system. It is found that for airports with less than 125 ktLH2 annual demand a LH2 refueling truck setup is the more economic choice. At airports with higher annual LH2 demands a LH2 pipeline & hydrant system can lead to slight cost reductions and enable safer and faster refueling. However, in all demand scenarios the refueling system costs only mark 3 to 4% of the total supply costs of LH2. The latter are dominated by the costs for green H2 produced offsite followed by the costs for liquefaction of H2 at an airport. While cost reducing scaling effects are likely to be achieved for H2 liquefaction plants, other component capacities would already be designed at maximum capacities for medium-sized airports. Furthermore, with annual LH2 demands of 100 ktLH2 and more, medium and larger airports could take a special H2 hub role by 2050 dominating regional H2 consumption. Finally, technology demonstrators are required to reduce uncertainty around major techno-economic parameters such as the investment costs for LH2 pipeline & hydrant systems. © 2022 The Author
A Logarithmic Conformal Field Theory Solution For Two Dimensional Magnetohydrodynamics In Presence of The Alf'ven Effect
When Alf`ven effect is peresent in magnetohydrodynamics one is naturally lead
to consider conformal field theories, which have logarithmic terms in their
correlation functions. We discuss the implications of such logarithmic terms
and find a unique conformal field theory with centeral charge
, within the border of the minimal series, which satisfies
all the constraints. The energy espectrum is found to be \newline .Comment: Latex, 9 page
Generalized twisted modules associated to general automorphisms of a vertex operator algebra
We introduce a notion of strongly C^{\times}-graded, or equivalently,
C/Z-graded generalized g-twisted V-module associated to an automorphism g, not
necessarily of finite order, of a vertex operator algebra. We also introduce a
notion of strongly C-graded generalized g-twisted V-module if V admits an
additional C-grading compatible with g. Let V=\coprod_{n\in \Z}V_{(n)} be a
vertex operator algebra such that V_{(0)}=\C\one and V_{(n)}=0 for n<0 and let
u be an element of V of weight 1 such that L(1)u=0. Then the exponential of
2\pi \sqrt{-1} Res_{x} Y(u, x) is an automorphism g_{u} of V. In this case, a
strongly C-graded generalized g_{u}-twisted V-module is constructed from a
strongly C-graded generalized V-module with a compatible action of g_{u} by
modifying the vertex operator map for the generalized V-module using the
exponential of the negative-power part of the vertex operator Y(u, x). In
particular, we give examples of such generalized twisted modules associated to
the exponentials of some screening operators on certain vertex operator
algebras related to the triplet W-algebras. An important feature is that we
have to work with generalized (twisted) V-modules which are doubly graded by
the group C/Z or C and by generalized eigenspaces (not just eigenspaces) for
L(0), and the twisted vertex operators in general involve the logarithm of the
formal variable.Comment: Final version to appear in Comm. Math. Phys. 38 pages. References on
triplet W-algebras added, misprints corrected, and expositions revise
Vitamin and Trace Minerals: A Survey of Current Feeding Regimens
Swine producers and nutritionists representing production systems across the United States were surveyed about added vitamin and trace mineral concentrations in swine diets used from March to August of 2014. Respondents were asked to provide the vitamin and trace mineral premix specifications and inclusion rates to calculate complete diet added vitamin and trace mineral concentrations. Weight ranges associated with feeding phases also were collected. In total, 18 production systems representing approximately 2.3 million sows (~40% of the U.S. sow herd) participated in the survey. Data were compiled into relatively consistent weight ranges across all participating producers. There were three nursery phases (Phase 1, weaning to 15 lb; Phase 2, 15 to 25 lb; and Phase 3, 25 to 50 lb), four finishing phases (early, 50 to 120 lb; mid, 120 to 220 lb; late, 220 lb to Market; and late with ractopamine HCl, 220 lb to Market), and four breeding herd diets (gilt development, gestation, lactation, and boar). Results were compiled and pooled to determine descriptive statistics on the supplementation rates. Descriptive statistics used included: average, weighted average (determined by size of operation), standard deviation, median, minimum, maximum, 25th percentile (lowest quartile), and 75th percentile (highest quartile). Within each dietary phase, the nutrients of interest were: vitamins A, D, E, and K; thiamin; riboflavin; niacin; pantothenic acid; pyridoxine; biotin; folic acid; vitamin B12; choline; betaine; vitamin C; carnitine; Cu; I; Fe; Mn; Se; Zn; Co; and Cr. Average supplementation rates for vitamins and trace minerals within each phase of production were compared to the requirement estimates reported in the NRC (2012). Results indicated tremendous variation in supplementation rates, but most vitamins and trace minerals were included at levels above the requirement estimates reported in the NRC (2012). Along with vitamin and trace mineral supplementation rates, respondents were asked about sources of specific nutrients used in premixes. The most distinguishable differences among sources within this survey were associated with the vitamin D3 from a cross-linked vitamin A/D3 beadlet, use of natural (d-α-tocopherol) vitamin E, and the use of organic trace minerals (Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn). Ultimately, evaluating current supplementation practices can be used to develop future experimental designs to test vitamin and trace mineral supplementation practices
Wind on the boundary for the Abelian sandpile model
We continue our investigation of the two-dimensional Abelian sandpile model
in terms of a logarithmic conformal field theory with central charge c=-2, by
introducing two new boundary conditions. These have two unusual features: they
carry an intrinsic orientation, and, more strangely, they cannot be imposed
uniformly on a whole boundary (like the edge of a cylinder). They lead to seven
new boundary condition changing fields, some of them being in highest weight
representations (weights -1/8, 0 and 3/8), some others belonging to
indecomposable representations with rank 2 Jordan cells (lowest weights 0 and
1). Their fusion algebra appears to be in full agreement with the fusion rules
conjectured by Gaberdiel and Kausch.Comment: 26 pages, 4 figure
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