We report the observation of bcc-like crystal structures in 2-4 monolayer (ML) Fe films grown on fcc Cu(100) using scanning tunneling microscopy. The local bcc structure provides a straightforward ...explanation for their frequently reported outstanding magnetic properties, i.e., ferromagnetic ordering in all layers with a Curie temperature above 300 K. The nonpseudomorphic structure, which becomes pseudomorphic above 4 ML film thickness, is unexpected in terms of conventional rules of thin film growth and stresses the importance of finite thickness effects in ferromagnetic ultrathin films.
Abstract This paper extends previous research and discussion on the use of multivariate continuous data, which are about to become more prevalent in forensic science. As an illustrative example, ...attention is drawn here on the area of comparative handwriting examinations. Multivariate continuous data can be obtained in this field by analysing the contour shape of loop characters through Fourier analysis. This methodology, based on existing research in this area, allows one describe in detail the morphology of character contours throughout a set of variables. This paper uses data collected from female and male writers to conduct a comparative analysis of likelihood ratio based evidence assessment procedures in both, evaluative and investigative proceedings. While the use of likelihood ratios in the former situation is now rather well established (typically, in order to discriminate between propositions of authorship of a given individual versus another, unknown individual), focus on the investigative setting still remains rather beyond considerations in practice. This paper seeks to highlight that investigative settings, too, can represent an area of application for which the likelihood ratio can offer a logical support. As an example, the inference of gender of the writer of an incriminated handwritten text is forwarded, analysed and discussed in this paper. The more general viewpoint according to which likelihood ratio analyses can be helpful for investigative proceedings is supported here through various simulations. These offer a characterisation of the robustness of the proposed likelihood ratio methodology.
Summary
Many patients treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) determine their INR using point-of-care (POC) whole blood coagulation monitors. The primary aim of the present study was to assess the ...INR within-subject variation in self-testing patients receiving a constant dose of VKA. The second aim of the study was to derive INR imprecision goals for whole blood coagulation monitors. Analytical performance goals for INR measurement can be derived from the average biological within-subject variation. Fifty-six Thrombosis Centres in the Netherlands were invited to select self-testing patients who were receiving a constant dose of either acenocoumarol or phenprocoumon for at least six consecutive INR measurements. In each patient, the coefficient of variation (CV) of INRs was calculated. One Thrombosis Centre selected regular patients being monitored with a POC device by professional staff. Sixteen Dutch Thrombosis Centres provided results for 322 selected patients, all using the CoaguChek XS. The median within-subject CV in patients receiving acenocoumarol (10.2 %) was significantly higher than the median CV in patients receiving phenprocoumon (8.6 %) (p = 0.001). The median CV in low-target intensity acenocoumarol self-testing patients (10.4 %) was similar to the median CV in regular patients monitored by professional staff (10.2 %). Desirable INR analytical imprecision goals for POC monitoring with CoaguChek XS in patients receiving either low-target intensity acenocoumarol or phenprocoumon were 5.1 % and 4.3 %, respectively. The approximate average value for the imprecision of the CoaguChek XS, i. e. 4 %, is in agreement with these goals.
Medical therapy of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is becoming more complex, given the increasing choice of drugs to treat Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to summarize the ...current guidelines for first-line treatments in IBD.
An extensive literature search with focus on the guidelines of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation for the diagnosis and treatment of CD and UC was performed. First-line treatments were defined as the following drug categories: 5-aminosalicylates, budesonide, systemic steroids, azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate, infliximab, adalimumab and certolizumab pegol. The following drug categories were not included: cyclosporine and tacrolimus (not yet approved by Swissmedic for IBD treatment).
Treatment recommendations for the following clinically frequent situations are presented according to disease severity: ileocecal CD, colonic CD, proximal small bowel CD and perianal CD. For UC the following situations are presented: ulcerative proctitis, left-sided colitis and pancolitis.
We provide a summary on the use of first-line therapies for clinically frequent situations in patients with CD and UC.
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