The cosmic evolution of radio-AGN feedback to z=1

This paper presents the first measurement of the radio luminosity function of 'jet-mode' (radiatively-inefficient) radio-AGN out to z=1, in order to investigate the cosmic evolution of radio-AGN feedback. Eight radio source samples are combined to produce a catalogue of 211 radio-loud AGN with 0.5<z<1.0, which are spectroscopically classified into jet-mode and radiative-mode (radiatively-efficient) AGN classes. Comparing with large samples of local radio-AGN from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the cosmic evolution of the radio luminosity function of each radio-AGN class is independently derived. Radiative-mode radio-AGN show an order of magnitude increase in space density out to z~1 at all luminosities, consistent with these AGN being fuelled by cold gas. In contrast, the space density of jet-mode radio-AGN decreases with increasing redshift at low radio luminosities (L_1.4 < 1e24 W/Hz) but increases at higher radio luminosities. Simple models are developed to explain the observed evolution. In the best-fitting models, the characteristic space density of jet-mode AGN declines with redshift in accordance with the declining space density of massive quiescent galaxies, which fuel them via cooling of gas in their hot haloes. A time delay of 1.5-2 Gyr may be present between the quenching of star formation and the onset of jet-mode radio-AGN activity. The behaviour at higher radio luminosities can be explained either by an increasing characteristic luminosity of jet-mode radio-AGN activity with redshift (roughly as (1+z) cubed) or if the jet-mode radio-AGN population also includes some contribution of cold-gas-fuelled sources seen at a time when their accretion rate was low. Higher redshifts measurements would distinguish between these possibilities.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring - comparison with office blood pressure in patients on antihypertensive therapy in private practice

Introduction. Available data on the use of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure recordings in private practice are limited. For this purpose we studied 39 consecutive hypertensive patients on treatment in a private practice.Method. Office blood pressure, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, daytime ambulatory blood pressure and M-mode echocardiography were undertaken in 39 consecutive hypertensive patients (21 men, 18 women) on treatment.Results. Mean 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and mean daytime ambulatory blood pressure were lower than office blood pressure, similar to findings seen in academic settings. A blood pressure load of more than 50% was seen in 12 out of 39 patients (31 %). Left ventricular hypertrophy, assessed by means of Framingham criteria, was seen in 33% of patients. A white-coat effect was seen in 15.4% of patients.Conclusions. A large proportion (33%) of patients on treatment for hypertension had left ventricular hypertrophy, despite normal electrocardiograms. Ambulatory blood pressure measurements identified a blood pressure load of more than 50% in 31 % of patients on treatment for hypertension

An educational intervention to improve the quality of care of diabetic patients

Objective. As few studies have addressed intervention for in-hospital care of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients, we set out to investigate whether an educational intervention targeting doctors could improve the quality of care for diabetic patients.Design. An observational interventional study conducted at Pretoria Academic Hospital, a tertiary care hospital.Subjects. Doctors working in the Department of Internal Medicine were the subjects of two interventional sessions on diabetic care, and all diabetic patients admitted to the wards in the above Department were evaluated.Outcome measures. A Diabetes Attitude Scale (DAS-3) and a Diabetes Practice Scale (DPS) were completed by each doctor before and after the interventional educational sessions. Data from diabetic patients in the wards were collected for 5 weeks before and 5 weeks after the interventional training, and these two sets of data were compared to measure the effect of the interventional training.Results. Subscales of the DAS-3 showed an improvement, with a statistically significant improvement in attitude regarding seriousness of DM (P = 0.03), and a trend towards improvement in attitude regarding need for special training and patient autonomy. Most of the items on the DPS improved significantly (P &lt; 0.05).Conclusions. A short educational intervention resulted in an improvement in attitude, knowledge and clinical management of diabetic patients

High-k Dielectric Thickness and Halo Implant on Threshold Voltage Control

High-k dielectric oxides have been used to replace the widely used silicon dioxide (SiO2) gate dielectrics to overcome physical limits of transistor scaling. The thickness of high-k gate dielectric influences the threshold voltage (VTH) and off-state leakage current (IOFF). A device with high drive current (ION) and low IOFF gives a high on-off current ratio (ION/IOFF), which leads to a faster switching speed for the Ntype Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (NMOS). In order to achieve the best ION/IOFF ratio for a predetermined range of VTH, halo implant was used to adjust the threshold voltage. The finding shows that optimum VTH and ION/IOFF ratio can be achieved by selecting the most suitable halo implant dose in a virtually fabricated 14nm gate-length La2O3-based NMOS device with varying high-k dielectric oxide thickness

Estudo expedito de solos do trecho Cuiabá-Aripuanã, MT, para fins de correlação e classificação.

Exame dos solos e amostragens; Roteiro da excursão; Sequencia e discussão sucinta dos estudos realizados: percurso: Cuiabá-Jangada-Barra do Bugres-Nova Olimpia-Tangará da Serra-Fazenda Itamarati-Campo Novo do Parecis; percurso: Juina-Castanheira-Juruena-Aripuanã; percurso: Aripuanã-Juina-Vilhena; Percurso: Vilhena-Cuiabá.bitstream/CNPS/8525/1/documentos_04_1998.pdfContrato Fundacao Candido Rondon / EMBRAPA SNLCS; Autoria: Paulo Klinger Tito Jacomine, João Carlos Ker, Lelis Nogueira Gonzaga, João B. Pereira Leite Sobrinho, Tereza Neide N. Vasconcelos, Sério Lins de Melo, Gonçalo Leite Moreira, Luiz Gonzaga de Oliveira, José Lopes de Paula, Maria Amélia de Moraes Duriez, Marie Elisabeth Christine Claessen, Ruth Andrade Leal Johas, Wilson Sant'Anna de Araújo, Washington de Oliveira Barreto, Evanda Maria Rodrigues, Therezinha da Costa Lima, Loiva Lizia Antonello

The effectiveness and safety of antifibrinolytics in patients with acute intracranial haemorrhage: statistical analysis plan for an individual patient data meta-analysis

Introduction: The Antifibrinolytic Trialists Collaboration aims to increase knowledge about the effectiveness and safety of antifibrinolytic treatment by conducting individual patient data (IPD) meta-analyses of randomised trials. This article presents the statistical analysis plan for an IPD meta-analysis of the effects of antifibrinolytics for acute intracranial haemorrhage. Methods: The protocol for the IPD meta-analysis has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42016052155). We will conduct an individual patient data meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials with 1000 patients or more assessing the effects of antifibrinolytics in acute intracranial haemorrhage. We will assess the effect on two co-primary outcomes: 1) death in hospital at end of trial follow-up, and 2) death in hospital or dependency at end of trial follow-up. The co-primary outcomes will be limited to patients treated within three hours of injury or stroke onset. We will report treatment effects using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. We use logistic regression models to examine how the effect of antifibrinolytics vary by time to treatment, severity of intracranial bleeding, and age. We will also examine the effect of antifibrinolytics on secondary outcomes including death, dependency, vascular occlusive events, seizures, and neurological outcomes. Secondary outcomes will be assessed in all patients irrespective of time of treatment. All analyses will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. Conclusions: This IPD meta-analysis will examine important clinical questions about the effects of antifibrinolytic treatment in patients with intracranial haemorrhage that cannot be answered using aggregate data. With IPD we can examine how effects vary by time to treatment, bleeding severity, and age, to gain better understanding of the balance of benefit and harms on which to base recommendations for practice