A tale of two cinnamons: A comparative review of the clinical evidence of Cinnamomum verum and C. cassia as diabetes interventions

Objective: This review investigates the effectiveness of two cinnamon species, Cinnamomum verum and C. cassia, in diabetes management; their impact on related health conditions and relevant parameters in healthy individuals and safety issues. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect were searched from 2000 up to April 2018 for clinical trials using either C. verum or C. cassia in controlling blood glucose and other diabetes-related parameters and conditions. Results: A total of twenty-five studies (n=997) were included for reviewing clinical evidence. Among these trials, fifteen studies investigated the effects on type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients (n=831), four investigated subjects with related clinical conditions (n=82), and six investigated healthy individuals (n=84). Nineteen studies used C. cassia and six used C. verum. Results suggested C. cassia helped manage diabetes at 3-6g, while the effectiveness of C. verum remained inconclusive. In addition, the chemical properties of C. cassia and C. verum differ considerably. Of note, C. cassia contains high levels of the potentially hepatotoxic constituent coumarin. A skin rash was the only adverse event reported. Conclusion: While evidence supports the therapeutic benefit of C. cassia, interchangeability of C. cassia and C. verum remains inconclusive. Further research is warranted to address the effectiveness and safety of these cinnamon species. Given the potential hepatotoxicity of C. cassia, RCTs that include liver function tests are required. Robust RCTs on C. verum are recommended to establish if its efficacy can match its safety profile

Thin wire pointing method

A method is described for forming sharp tips on thin wires, in particular phosphor bronze wires of diameters such as one-thousandth inch used to contact micron size Schottky barrier diodes, which enables close control of tip shape and which avoids the use of highly toxic solutions. The method includes dipping an end of a phosphor bronze wire into a dilute solution of sulfamic acid and applying a current through the wire to electrochemically etch it. The humidity in the room is controlled to a level of less than 50%, and the voltage applied between the wire and another electrode in the solutions is a half wave rectified voltage. The current through the wire is monitored, and the process is stopped when the current falls to a predetermined low level

Ward round documentation in a major trauma centre: can we improve patient safety?

Our objective was to improve documentation and patient safety in a major trauma centre. A retrospective audit was undertaken in March 2014. Ward round entries for each orthopaedic patients on three dates were assessed against standards and analysed. The audit was repeated in April 2014, and again in August 2014. Thorough documentation is paramount in a major trauma centre. It forms a useful record of the patients hospital stay, is a legal document and is highlighted in national guidelines. It provides a basis for good handover, ensuring continuation of care and maintaining patient safety. Resultant poor compliance with Royal College guidelines in the initial audit led to the production of a new electronic based note keeping system. A meeting was held with all staff prior to introduction. Our initial results gained 75 entries, and none showed full compliance. Mean compliance per entry was 59% (0-81%). The second attempt gained 90 entries, with 30 from the weekend. Mean compliance per entry 97%. Third attempt received 61 entries, with 27 from the weekend. Mean compliance was 96%, meaning that the improvement was being maintained. Recent distressing reports regarding patient highlighted the importance of patient. Our initial audit proved there were many areas lacking in our documentation and improvement was necessary. Prior to introducing electronic systems, the implemented change has produced improvement in documentation, and provides a useful handover tool for staff

Preliminary estimates of vertical momentum flux

Preliminary results of themomentum flux and flux divergence during a transient episode, as a jet stream moved over the radar are given. The zonal and meridional momentum flux and flux divergences displayed remarkable continuity with altitude in time, increasing in intensity as lee waves and other gravity-wave activity developed while the jet stream approached. The momentum flux values observed compare favorably with aircraft measurements made over similar topography, at least during the early part of the day. The accelerations due to the momentum flux divergence seem rather large at first glance, especially for the late part of the day. However, there may be compensating forces due to effects not considered here, such as transverse circulations or, scales of motion to small to be resolved by these data

Positron scattering and annihilation on noble gas atoms

Positron scattering and annihilation on noble gas atoms below the positronium formation threshold is studied ab initio using many-body theory methods. The many-body theory provides a near-complete understanding of the positron-noble-gas-atom system at these energies and yields accurate numerical results. It accounts for positron-atom and electron-positron correlations, e.g., polarization of the atom by the incident positron and the non-perturbative process of virtual positronium formation. These correlations have a large effect on the scattering dynamics and result in a strong enhancement of the annihilation rates compared to the independent-particle mean-field description. Computed elastic scattering cross sections are found to be in good agreement with recent experimental results and Kohn variational and convergent close-coupling calculations. The calculated values of the annihilation rate parameter $Z_{\rm eff}$ (effective number of electrons participating in annihilation) rise steeply along the sequence of noble gas atoms due to the increasing strength of the correlation effects, and agree well with experimental data.Comment: 24 pages, 17 figure

Electronic spin-triplet nematic with a twist

We analyze a model of itinerant electrons interacting through a quadrupole density-density repulsion in three dimensions. At the mean field level, the interaction drives a continuous Pomeranchuk instability towards $d$-wave, spin-triplet nematic order, which simultaneously breaks the SU(2) spin-rotation and spatial rotational symmetries. This order results in spin antisymmetric, elliptical deformations of the Fermi surfaces of up and down spins. We show that the effects of quantum fluctuations are similar to those in metallic ferromagnets, rendering the nematic transition first-order at low temperatures. Using the fermionic quantum order-by-disorder approach to self-consistently calculate fluctuations around possible modulated states, we show that the first-order transition is pre-empted by the formation of a nematic state that is intertwined with a helical modulation in spin space. Such a state is closely related to $d$-wave bond density wave order in square-lattice systems. Moreover, we show that it may coexist with a modulated, $p$-wave superconducting state.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

Measurements of vertical velocity over flat terrain by ST radar and other related uses of the radar data set

The need to study vertical velocity measurements from an ST radar located on the plains, far from the mountains is pointed out, as all presently available clear-air radars are located in or near mountains. The construction and operation of a VHF Doppler (ST) radar in the midwestern part of the United States to make meteorological measurements is also discussed. While primary interest is in measuring the synoptic-scale vertical velocities in the troposphere and lower stratosphere, it should be stressed, however, that the radar data set generated during the radar experiment would have many other valuable uses of interest to us and others some of whom are listed below. The required radar parameters, approximate costs, and recommended mode of operation are also detailed

Approach to rapid mission design and planning

Methods and techniques are described for implementation in automated computer systems to assess parametric data, capabilities, requirements and constraints for planning earth orbit missions. Mission planning and design procedures are defined using two types of typical missions as examples. These missions were the high energy Astronomical Observatory Satellite missions, and Small Applications Technology Satellite missions

Lunar targeting study: Lunar and planetary Ephemeris tapes

The Univac 1108 computer tape data formats are documented for the ephermeris tape generated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the ephemeris tape used by the Quick Response Targeting Program (QRTP). Ephermeris tapes are used as the data source for the position and velocity components of those celestial bodies being considered in an integrated trajectory simulation program. The QRTP ephemeris tape has data only for lunar mission simulations. The JPL ephemeris tape has data for the moon and the nine planets. The ephemeris tapes, the data formats, the coordinate systems, and units are defined. The transformation from the mean-of-1950 coordinate system to the nearest mean Besselian year is given