Experimental Verification of the Chemical Sensitivity of Two-Site Double Core-Hole States Formed by an X-ray FEL

We have performed X-ray two-photon photoelectron spectroscopy (XTPPS) using the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray free-electron laser (FEL) in order to study double core-hole (DCH) states of CO2, N2O and N2. The experiment verifies the theory behind the chemical sensitivity of two-site (ts) DCH states by comparing a set of small molecules with respect to the energy shift of the tsDCH state and by extracting the relevant parameters from this shift.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figure

The course of pain drawings during a 10-week treatment period in patients with acute and sub-acute low back pain

BACKGROUND: Pain drawings are widely used as an assessment of patients' subjective pain in low back pain patients being considered for surgery. Less work has been done on primary health care patients. Moreover, the possible correlation between pain drawing modalities and other pain assessment methods, such as pain score and functional variables needs to be described. Thus, the objectives were to describe the course of pain drawings during treatment in primary health care for low back pain patients. METHODS: 160 primary health care outpatients with acute or sub-acute low back pain were studied during 10 weeks of a stay active concept versus manual therapy in addition to the stay active concept. The patients filled out 3 pain drawings each, at baseline and after 5 and 10 weeks of treatment. In addition the patients also reported pain and functional variables during the 3 measurement periods. RESULTS: The proportion of areas marked, the mean number of areas marked (pain drawing score), mean number of modalities used (area score), and the proportion of patients with pain radiation all decreased during the 10-week treatment period. Most of the improvement occurred during the first half of the period. The seven different pain modalities in the pain drawing were correlated to pain and functional variables. In case of no radiation some modalities were associated with more pain and disability than others, a finding that grew stronger over time. For patients with pain radiation, the modality differences were smaller and inconsistent. CONCLUSION: Pain modalities are significantly correlated with pain and functional variables. There is a shift from painful modalities to less painful ones over time

Dynamics of hollow atom formation in intense x-ray pulses probed by partial covariance mapping

When exposed to ultraintense x-radiation sources such as free electron lasers (FELs) the innermost electronic shell can efficiently be emptied, creating a transient hollow atom or molecule. Understanding the femtosecond dynamics of such systems is fundamental to achieving atomic resolution in flash diffraction imaging of noncrystallized complex biological samples. We demonstrate the capacity of a correlation method called "partial covariance mapping'' to probe the electron dynamics of neon atoms exposed to intense 8 fs pulses of 1062 eV photons. A complete picture of ionization processes competing in hollow atom formation and decay is visualized with unprecedented ease and the map reveals hitherto unobserved nonlinear sequences of photoionization and Auger events. The technique is particularly well suited to the high counting rate inherent in FEL experiments

Сонячна батарея

1. Сонячна батарея, що містить каскад панелей сонячних батарей, які за допомогою шарнірних з’єднань кріпляться до нерухомих основ, яка відрізняється тим, що кожна панель сонячної батареї виконана з вікнами для пропускання світлових променів під робочу поверхню панелей, а профіль вікон може мати круглу, квадратну або іншу форму

A multicentre, randomised, parallel group, superiority study to compare the clinical and cost-effectiveness of external frame versus internal locking plate for complete articular pilon fracture fixation in adults: protocol for the ACTIVE randomised controlled trial

Aims A pilon fracture is a severe ankle joint injury caused by high-energy trauma, typically affecting men of working age. Although relatively uncommon (5-7% of all tibial fractures), this injury causes amongst the worst functional and health outcomes of any skeletal injury, with a high risk of serious complications and long-term disability, and with devastating consequences on patients’ quality of life and financial prospects. Robust evidence to guide treatment is currently lacking. This study aims to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of two surgical interventions that are most commonly used to treat pilon fractures. Methods A randomised controlled trial (RCT) of 334 adult patients diagnosed with a closed type C pilon fracture will be conducted. Internal locking plate fixation will be compared with external frame fixation. The primary outcome and endpoint will be the Disability Rating Index (a patient selfreported assessment of physical disability) at 12 months. This will also be measured at baseline, 3, 6 and 24 months after randomisation. Secondary outcomes include the Olerud and Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), the EQ-5D-5L score, complications (including bone healing), resource use, work impact and patient treatment preference. The acceptability of the treatments and study design to patients and health care professionals will be explored through qualitative methods. Discussion The two treatments being compared are the most commonly used for this injury, however there is uncertainty over which is most clinically and cost-effective. ACTIVE is a sufficiently powered and rigorously designed study to inform clinical decisions for the treatment of adults with this injury. Clinical relevance of the paper Recent reviews of the literature and NICE treatment guidance have identified the need for robust RCTs to assess whether internal or external fixation is better for management of pilon fractures. The outcome of this study will directly influence clinical decision-making and health policy by informing international and United Kingdom national guidance, improve outcomes for patients and reduce the financial burden associated with the injury. A systematic review by NICE identified no economic evaluations, which this study is addressing

The Warwick patellofemoral arthroplasty trial : a randomised clinical trial of total knee arthroplasty versus patellofemoral arthroplasty in patients with severe arthritis of the patellofemoral joint

Background Severe arthritis of the knee is a disabling condition, with over 50,000 knee replacements performed each year in the UK. Isolated patellofemoral joint arthritis occurs in over 10% of these patients with the treatment options being patellofemoral arthroplasty or total knee arthroplasty. Whilst many surgeons believe total knee arthroplasty is the 'gold standard' treatment for severe knee arthritis, patellofemoral arthroplasty has certain potential advantages. Primarily, because this operation allows the patient to keep the majority of their own knee joint; preserving bone-stock and the patients' own ligaments. Patellofemoral arthroplasty has also been recognised as a less 'invasive' operation than primary total knee arthroplasty, facilitating a more rapid recovery. There are currently no published results of randomised clinical trials comparing the two arthroplasty techniques. The primary objective of the current study is to assess whether there is a difference in functional knee scores and quality of life outcome assessments at one year post-operation between patellofemoral arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty. The secondary objective is to assess the complication rates for both procedures. Methods/design Patients who are deemed suitable, by an Orthopaedic Consultant, for patellofemoral arthroplasty and medically fit for surgery are eligible to take part in this trial. The consenting patients will be randomised in a 1:1 allocation to a total knee or patellofemoral arthroplasty. The randomisation sequence will be computer generated and administered by a central independent randomisation service. Following consent, all participants will have their knee function, quality of life and physical activity level assessed through questionnaires. The assigned surgery will then be performed using the preferred technique and implant of the operating surgeon. The first post-operative assessments will take place at six weeks, followed by further assessments at 3, 6 and 12 months. At each assessment time point all complications will be recorded. In addition, community and social care services usage will be collected using a patient questionnaire at 3, 6 & 12 months. The patients will then be sent an annual postal questionnaire. The questionnaire will ask about any problems, knee pain and function following their knee arthroplasty to monitor long-term function and failure rates. Discussion This trial is expected to deliver results in early 2013

Selectivity in fragmentation of N-methylacetamide after resonant K-shell excitation

The fragmentation pattern of the peptide model system, N-methylacetamide, is investigated using ion time-of-flight (TOF) spectroscopy after resonant K-shell excitation. Corresponding near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra recorded at high resolution at the C1s, N1s and O1s edges are presented. Analysis of the ion TOF data reveals a multitude of fragmentation channels and dissociation pathways. Comparison between the excitation of six different resonances in the vicinity of the C1s, N1s and O1s edges suggests evidence for site-selective bond breaking. In particular the breaking of the peptide bond and the N–Ca bond show a clear correlation with resonant excitation at the N1s edge. Also, stronger tendencies towards site-selective bond breaking are found for the generation of single ions compared with ion pairs. Analysis of angular distributions of ions from breakage of the peptide bond yields a fragmentation time of o400 fs