1. |
- Edlmann, E, et al.
(author)
-
Dex-CSDH randomised, placebo-controlled trial of dexamethasone for chronic subdural haematoma: report of the internal pilot phase
- 2019
-
In: Scientific reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 9:1, s. 5885-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Dex-CSDH trial is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of dexamethasone for patients with a symptomatic chronic subdural haematoma. The trial commenced with an internal pilot, whose primary objective was to assess the feasibility of multi-centre recruitment. Primary outcome data collection and safety were also assessed, whilst maintaining blinding. We aimed to recruit 100 patients from United Kingdom Neurosurgical Units within 12 months. Trial participants were randomised to a 2-week course of dexamethasone or placebo in addition to receiving standard care (which could include surgery). The primary outcome measure of the trial is the modified Rankin Scale at 6 months. This pilot recruited ahead of target; 100 patients were recruited within nine months of commencement. 47% of screened patients consented to recruitment. The primary outcome measure was collected in 98% of patients. No safety concerns were raised by the independent data monitoring and ethics committee and only five patients were withdrawn from drug treatment. Pilot trial data can inform on the design and resource provision for substantive trials. This internal pilot was successful in determining recruitment feasibility. Excellent follow-up rates were achieved and exploratory outcome measures were added to increase the scientific value of the trial.
|
|
2. |
- Maitrallain, A., et al.
(author)
-
Parametric study of high-energy ring-shaped electron beams from a laser wakefield accelerator
- 2022
-
In: New Journal of Physics. - : IOP Publishing. - 1367-2630. ; 24:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Laser wakefield accelerators commonly produce on-axis, low-divergence, high-energy electron beams. However, a high charge, annular shaped beam can be trapped outside the bubble and accelerated to high energies. Here we present a parametric study on the production of low-energy-spread, ultra-relativistic electron ring beams in a two-stage gas cell. Ring-shaped beams with energies higher than 750 MeV are observed simultaneously with on axis, continuously injected electrons. Often multiple ring shaped beams with different energies are produced and parametric studies to control the generation and properties of these structures were conducted. Particle tracking and particle-in-cell simulations are used to determine properties of these beams and investigate how they are formed and trapped outside the bubble by the wake produced by on-axis injected electrons. These unusual femtosecond duration, high-charge, high-energy, ring electron beams may find use in beam driven plasma wakefield accelerators and radiation sources.
|
|
3. |
- Hussein, A. E., et al.
(author)
-
Laser-wakefield accelerators for high-resolution X-ray imaging of complex microstructures
- 2019
-
In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 9:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Laser-wakefield accelerators (LWFAs) are high acceleration-gradient plasma-based particle accelerators capable of producing ultra-relativistic electron beams. Within the strong focusing fields of the wakefield, accelerated electrons undergo betatron oscillations, emitting a bright pulse of X-rays with a micrometer-scale source size that may be used for imaging applications. Non-destructive X-ray phase contrast imaging and tomography of heterogeneous materials can provide insight into their processing, structure, and performance. To demonstrate the imaging capability of X-rays from an LWFA we have examined an irregular eutectic in the aluminum-silicon (Al-Si) system. The lamellar spacing of the Al-Si eutectic microstructure is on the order of a few micrometers, thus requiring high spatial resolution. We present comparisons between the sharpness and spatial resolution in phase contrast images of this eutectic alloy obtained via X-ray phase contrast imaging at the Swiss Light Source (SLS) synchrotron and X-ray projection microscopy via an LWFA source. An upper bound on the resolving power of 2.7 ± 0.3 μm of the LWFA source in this experiment was measured. These results indicate that betatron X-rays from laser wakefield acceleration can provide an alternative to conventional synchrotron sources for high resolution imaging of eutectics and, more broadly, complex microstructures.
|
|
4. |
- Spesyvtsev, R., et al.
(author)
-
Generation of electron high energy beams with a ring-like structure by a dual stage laser wakefield accelerator
- 2019
-
In: Relativistic Plasma Waves and Particle Beams as Coherent and Incoherent Radiation Sources III. - : SPIE. - 9781510627383 ; 11036
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The laser wake-field accelerator (LWFA) traditionally produces high brightness, quasi-monoenergetic electron beams with Gaussian-like spatial and angular distributions. In the present work we investigate the generation of ultra-relativistic beams with ring-like structures in the blowout regime of the LWFA using a dual stage accelerator. A density down-ramp triggers injection after the first stage and is used to produce ring-like electron spectra in the 300 - 600 MeV energy range. These well defined, annular beams are observed simultaneously with the on-axis, high energy electron beams, with a divergence of a few milliradians. The rings have quasi-monoenergetic energy spectra with an RMS spread estimated to be less than 5%. Particle-in-cell simulations confirm that off-axis injection provides the electrons with the initial transverse momentum necessary to undertake distinct betatron oscillations within the plasma bubble during their acceleration process.
|
|
5. |
- Valiente-Dobon, JJ, et al.
(author)
-
High-spin rotational structures in Kr-76
- 2005
-
In: Physical Review C (Nuclear Physics). - 0556-2813. ; 71:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- High-spin states in Kr-76(36)40 have been populated in the Ca-40(Ca-40,4p)Kr-76 fusion-evaporation reaction at abeam energy of 165 MeV and studied using the Gammasphere and Microball multidetector arrays. The ground-state band and two signature-split negative parity bands of Kr-76 have been extended to similar to 30 (h) over bar. Lifetime measurements. using the Doppler-shift attenuation method show that the transition quadrupole moment of these three bands decrease as they approach their maximum-spin states. Two signatures of a new rotational structure with remarkably rigid rotational behavior have been identified. The high-spin properties of these rotational bands are analyzed within the framework of configuration-dependent cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations.
|
|
6. |
- Valiente-Dobon, JJ, et al.
(author)
-
Lifetimes of high-spin states in Kr-76
- 2005
-
In: Acta Physica Polonica. Series B: Elementary Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics, Statistical Physics, Theory of Relativity, Field Theory. - 0587-4254. ; 36:4, s. 1339-1342
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- High-spin states in Kr-76(36)40 have been populated in the Ca-40 (Ca-40,4p) Kr-76 fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 165 MeV, and studied using the GAMMASPHERE and MICROBALL multi-detector arrays. The ground-state band and two signature-split negative-parity bands of Kr-76 have been extended to similar to 30h. Lifetime measurements using the Doppler-shift attenuation method indicate that the transition quadrupole moment of these three bands decrease as they approach their maximum-spin states.
|
|
7. |
- Abbott, Benjamin W., et al.
(author)
-
Biomass offsets little or none of permafrost carbon release from soils, streams, and wildfire : an expert assessment
- 2016
-
In: Environmental Research Letters. - : IOP Publishing. - 1748-9326. ; 11:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As the permafrost region warms, its large organic carbon pool will be increasingly vulnerable to decomposition, combustion, and hydrologic export. Models predict that some portion of this release will be offset by increased production of Arctic and boreal biomass; however, the lack of robust estimates of net carbon balance increases the risk of further overshooting international emissions targets. Precise empirical or model-based assessments of the critical factors driving carbon balance are unlikely in the near future, so to address this gap, we present estimates from 98 permafrost-region experts of the response of biomass, wildfire, and hydrologic carbon flux to climate change. Results suggest that contrary to model projections, total permafrost-region biomass could decrease due to water stress and disturbance, factors that are not adequately incorporated in current models. Assessments indicate that end-of-the-century organic carbon release from Arctic rivers and collapsing coastlines could increase by 75% while carbon loss via burning could increase four-fold. Experts identified water balance, shifts in vegetation community, and permafrost degradation as the key sources of uncertainty in predicting future system response. In combination with previous findings, results suggest the permafrost region will become a carbon source to the atmosphere by 2100 regardless of warming scenario but that 65%-85% of permafrost carbon release can still be avoided if human emissions are actively reduced.
|
|
8. |
- Orce, J. N., et al.
(author)
-
Reorientation-effect measurement of the (2+ 1 Eˆ22+ 1) matrix element in 10Be
- 2012
-
In: Physical Review C - Nuclear Physics. - 2469-9985 .- 2469-9993. ; 86:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The highly-efficient and segmented TIGRESS gamma-ray spectrometer at TRIUMF has been used to perform a reorientation-effect Coulomb-excitation study of the 2(1)(+) state at 3.368 MeV in Be-10. This is the first Coulomb-excitation measurement that enables one to obtain information on diagonal matrix elements for such a high-lying first excited state from gamma-ray data. With the availability of accurate lifetime data, a value of -0.110 +/- 0.087 eb is determined for the diagonal matrix element, which assuming the rotor model, leads to a negative spectroscopic quadrupole moment of Q(S)(2(1)(+)) = -0.083 +/- 0.066 eb. This result is in agreement with both no-core shell-model calculations performed in this work with the CD-Bonn 2000 two-nucleon potential and large shell-model spaces, and Green's function Monte Carlo predictions with two-plus three-nucleon potentials.
|
|
9. |
- Holgerson, Meredith A., et al.
(author)
-
Classifying Mixing Regimes in Ponds and Shallow Lakes
- 2022
-
In: Water resources research. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0043-1397 .- 1944-7973. ; 58:7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Lakes are classified by thermal mixing regimes, with shallow waterbodies historically categorized as continuously mixing systems. Yet, recent studies demonstrate extended summertime stratification in ponds, underscoring the need to reassess thermal classifications for shallow waterbodies. In this study, we examined the summertime thermal dynamics of 34 ponds and shallow lakes across temperate North America and Europe to categorize and identify the drivers of different mixing regimes. We identified three mixing regimes: rarely (n = 18), intermittently (n = 10), and often (n = 6) mixed, where waterbodies mixed an average of 2%, 26%, and 75% of the study period, respectively. Waterbodies in the often mixed category were larger (≥4.17 ha) and stratification weakened with increased wind shear stress, characteristic of “shallow lakes.” In contrast, smaller waterbodies, or “ponds,” mixed less frequently, and stratification strengthened with increased shortwave radiation. Shallow ponds (<0.74 m) mixed intermittently, with daytime stratification often breaking down overnight due to convective cooling. Ponds ≥0.74 m deep were rarely or never mixed, likely due to limited wind energy relative to the larger density gradients associated with slightly deeper water columns. Precipitation events weakened stratification, even causing short-term mixing (hours to days) in some sites. By examining a broad set of shallow waterbodies, we show that mixing regimes are highly sensitive to very small differences in size and depth, with potential implications for ecological and biogeochemical processes. Ultimately, we propose a new framework to characterize the variable mixing regimes of ponds and shallow lakes.
|
|
10. |
- Duddridge, J.A., et al.
(author)
-
The structure and function of the vegetative mycelium of ectomycorrhizal plants .3. Ultrastructural and autoradiographic analysis of inter-plant carbon distribution through intact mycelial systems
- 1988
-
In: New Phytologist. - 1469-8137. ; 108:2, s. 183-188
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plants of Pinus sylvestris L. were grown in mycorrhizal association with Suillus bovinus (Fr.) O. Kuntze in observation chambers until an interconnecting mycelial network had developed between the seedlings. The shoot of an individual seedling was then sealed in a perspex cuvette and exposed to 14CO2. After incubation for 48 h, the 'donor' shoot was removed and components of the mycelial network and mycorrhizal roots of connected and unconnected 'receiver' seedlings were harvested, fixed, embedded and sectioned prior to being autoradiographed and examined by transmission electron microscopy. The patterns of distribution of 14C-labelled material within the mycelial strands, the sheath and root tissues was examined. The results are discussed in relation to carbon metabolism of the fungus and of the interconnected host plant.
|
|