250 research outputs found
ACTG A5175/Pearls trial – Survival probability estimate from randomization to treatment failure by pill count non-adherence (solid line = did not miss any pills; dashed line = missed any pills).
No full text<p>ACTG A5175/Pearls trial – Survival probability estimate from randomization to treatment failure by pill count non-adherence (solid line = did not miss any pills; dashed line = missed any pills).</p
Characterization of pearls by X-ray phase contrast imaging with a grating interferometer
No full textAbstractIn this study, X-ray phase contrast imaging with a grating interferometer is applied on pearls for the first time in order to distinguish natural pearls from cultured pearls. Traditionally, this separation is mainly based on X-ray radiography. In order to visualize the internal structure of pearls we used a custom-made grating interferometer setup and performed measurements on three different pearl products, a natural pearl, a beaded cultured pearl and a beadless cultured pearl. To enhance the visibility of the internal pearl structures, we applied a high-pass filter in order to better conclude on the applicability of this technique to the separation of natural and cultured pearls. The study shows that it is possible to visualize internal pearl structures using distinctly shorter exposure times compared to traditional X-ray radiography and that X-ray phase contrast imaging is a promising complementary method for pearl analysis
High performance parallelism pearls : multicore and many-core programming approaches / James Reinders, Jim Jeffers.
No full textElectronic reproduction. Palo Alto, Calif. : ebrary, 2014. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ebrary affiliated libraries.computer bookfair2016Includes indexes.Previously issued in print: 2014.xlv, 502 pages
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JWST PEARLS. Prime Extragalactic Areas for Reionization and Lensing Science: Project Overview and First Results
No full textWe give an overview and describe the rationale, methods, and first results from NIRCam images of the JWST “Prime Extragalactic Areas for Reionization and Lensing Science” (PEARLS) project. PEARLS uses up to eight NIRCam filters to survey several prime extragalactic survey areas: two fields at the North Ecliptic Pole (NEP); seven gravitationally lensing clusters; two high redshift protoclusters; and the iconic backlit VV 191 galaxy system to map its dust attenuation. PEARLS also includes NIRISS spectra for one of the NEP fields and NIRSpec spectra of two high-redshift quasars. The main goal of PEARLS is to study the epoch of galaxy assembly, active galactic nucleus (AGN) growth, and First Light. Five fields—the JWST NEP Time-Domain Field (TDF), IRAC Dark Field, and three lensing clusters—will be observed in up to four epochs over a year. The cadence and sensitivity of the imaging data are ideally suited to find faint variable objects such as weak AGN, high-redshift supernovae, and cluster caustic transits. Both NEP fields have sightlines through our Galaxy, providing significant numbers of very faint brown dwarfs whose proper motions can be studied. Observations from the first spoke in the NEP TDF are public. This paper presents our first PEARLS observations, their NIRCam data reduction and analysis, our first object catalogs, the 0.9-4.5 μm galaxy counts and Integrated Galaxy Light. We assess the JWST sky brightness in 13 NIRCam filters, yielding our first constraints to diffuse light at 0.9-4.5 μm. PEARLS is designed to be of lasting benefit to the community. © 2022. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]
A well-separated pairs decomposition algorithm for k-d trees implemented on multi-core architectures
No full textContent from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.Variations of k-d trees represent a fundamental data structure used in Computational Geometry with numerous applications in science. For example particle track tting in the software of the LHC experiments, and in simulations of N-body systems in the study of dynamics of interacting galaxies, particle beam physics, and molecular dynamics in biochemistry. The many-body tree methods devised by Barnes and Hutt in the 1980s and the Fast Multipole Method introduced in 1987 by Greengard and Rokhlin use variants of k-d trees to reduce the computation time upper bounds to O(n log n) and even O(n) from O(n2). We present an algorithm that uses the principle of well-separated pairs decomposition to always produce compressed trees in O(n log n) work. We present and evaluate parallel implementations for the algorithm that can take advantage of multi-core architectures.The Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK
Psychosocial Predictors of Non-Adherence and Treatment Failure in a Large Scale Multi-National Trial of Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV: Data from the ACTG A5175/PEARLS Trial
No full textBackground: PEARLS, a large scale trial of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV (n = 1,571, 9 countries, 4 continents), found that a once-daily protease inhibitor (PI) based regimen (ATV+DDI+FTC), but not a once-daily non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor/nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI/NRTI) regimen (EFV+FTC/TDF), had inferior efficacy compared to a standard of care twice-daily NNRTI/NRTI regimen (EFV+3TC/ZDV). The present study examined non-adherence in PEARLS. Methods: Outcomes: non-adherence assessed by pill count and by self-report, and time to treatment failure. Longitudinal predictors: regimen, quality of life (general health perceptions = QOL-health, mental health = QOL-mental health), social support, substance use, binge drinking, and sexual behaviors. “Life-Steps” adherence counseling was provided. Results: In both pill-count and self-report multivariable models, both once-a-day regimens had lower levels of non-adherence than the twice-a-day standard of care regimen; although these associations attenuated with time in the self-report model. In both multivariable models, hard-drug use was associated with non-adherence, living in Africa and better QOL-health were associated with less non-adherence. According to pill-count, unprotected sex was associated with non-adherence. According to self-report, soft-drug use was associated with non-adherence and living in Asia was associated with less non-adherence. Both pill-count (HR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.15, 2.09, p<.01) and self-report (HR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.13, p<.01) non-adherence were significant predictors of treatment failure over 72 weeks. In multivariable models (including pill-count or self-report nonadherence), worse QOL-health, age group (younger), and region were also significant predictors of treatment failure. Conclusion: In the context of a large, multi-national, multi-continent, clinical trial there were variations in adherence over time, with more simplified regimens generally being associated with better adherence. Additionally, variables such as QOL-health, regimen, drug-use, and region play a role. Self-report and pill-count adherence, as well as additional psychosocial variables, such QOL-health, age, and region, were, in turn, associated with treatment failure.Version of Recor
Electromagnetictherapy for Treatment of Insomnia: A clinical Trial Study
No full textBackground & Objectives: Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders in the world. It
causes disruption in daily activities and increases the risk of major depression. Hence, clinically
the appropriate and persistent treatment of insomnia is very important. Using of hypnotic drugs
such as benzodiazepines is the common treatment for insomnia but they show several side effects
and it seems that new medications should be used for treatment of sleep disorders. The aim of this
study was comparison between the effects of electromagnetic therapy and conventional drug
usage in the treatment of insomnia.
Methods: In a blind randomized clinical trial study, 60 people referred to the private office of the
psychiatrist and experienced more than 3 months extended primary insomnia were selected. They
were diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria and had no other underlying problems. The subjects were
divided in two groups: 30 people in each and treated electromagnetically or with Alprazolam for 3
weeks. Before treatment, immediately and one month after treatment, quality of sleep and severity
of the insomnia were evaluated by using the standard questionnaires and finally, the results were
analyzed statistically.
Results: In this study, 60 individuals participated from whom 28 were male (46.7%) and 32
patients were female (53.3%).The mean age was 37.3 years old in a range of 17- 65. The mean
point of each questionnaire, before and immediately after treatment significantly didn't show any
difference but one month after treatment, there was a significant difference in both groups.
Conclusion: To treat insomnia, electromagnetic therapy appears to be used as a replacement for
sedative medicines. It also has more stability in comparison with other sedative medicines and no
side effects have been reported yet
EndoBridge 2023: highlights and pearls
No full textEndoBridge 2023 took place on October 20–22, 2023, in Antalya, Turkey. Accredited by the European Council, the 3-day scientific program of the 11th Annual Meeting of EndoBridge included state-of-the-art lectures and interactive small group discussion sessions incorporating interesting and challenging clinical cases led by globally recognized leaders in the field and was well attended by a highly diverse audience. Following its established format over the years, the program provided a comprehensive update across all aspects of endocrinology and metabolism, including topics in pituitary, thyroid, bone, and adrenal disorders, neuroendocrine tumors, diabetes mellitus, obesity, nutrition, and lipid disorders. As usual, the meeting was held in English with simultaneous translation into Russian, Arabic, and Turkish. The abstracts of clinical cases presented by the delegates during oral and poster sessions have been published in JCEM Case Reports. Herein, we provide a paper on highlights and pearls of the meeting sessions covering a wide range of subjects, from thyroid nodule stratification to secondary osteoporosis and from glycemic challenges in post-bariatric surgery to male hypogonadism. This report emphasizes the latest developments in the field, along with clinical approaches to common endocrine issues. The 12th annual meeting of EndoBridge will be held on October 17–20, 2024 in Antalya, Turkey. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Hellenic Endocrine Society 2024
Quest for Identity in Parvin Shere’s Pearls from the Ocean
No full textThis paper analyzes the means of self-representation, the conflicts between self/other, and the conscious and unconscious quest for identity by the writer. This paper attempts to understand travel narratives as the narratives about the journey undertaken for the quest for identity by traveler/writer wherein apart from the physical journey of the author the emphasis is laid on the emotional and psychological journey within the author. Parvin Shere is a poet, writer, painter, and musician. She has travelled to as many as five continents (Africa, South America, Europe, Asia and North America) and twenty six countries. Her travelogue, Pearls from the Ocean is an interdisciplinary text with the use of literature prose, poetry and paintings. This paper attempts to answer the questions like, what is identity; does quest for identity play an important part in travel narrating; what factors exhibit the significance of identity in travel narratives; does travel facilitates the quest for identity of the writer/traveler through the analysis of Parvin’s travelogue
X-ray computed tomography for fast and non-destructive multiple pearl inspection
No full textAbstractX-ray computed tomography displays a highly valuable nondestructive testing tool in various fields. A major disadvantage of this method comprises its high operating costs. Therefore, the reduction of the scanning times would be highly beneficial. Here, we demonstrate exemplarily for the testing of pearls the possibility to decrease the scanning times. The great diversity of pearls on the market, often of unclear origin, especially used for jewelry, demands non-destructive test methods for the fast and reliable classification and validation. We discuss the use of a nano-focus X-ray computed tomography (nf-XCT) system for fast three-dimensional characterization to distinguish between natural and cultured pearls. We test the approach not on individual pearls but for a more demanding task namely for a pearl necklace, that is multiple pearls on a strand. We show that with just one scan the 3D image data of the individual pearls within the whole necklace, which is composed of about 200 pearls can be scanned and reconstructed in only about 24 minutes. That is, we illustrate that nf-XCT as a inspection method is highly competitive to conventional radiography or radioscopy. The presented work also reveals possibilities for other fields like microelectronics etc
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