A template-free approach for waveform extraction of gravitational wave events.

We develop a general data-driven and template-free method for the extraction of event waveforms in the presence of background noise. Recent gravitational-wave observations provide one of the significant scientific areas requiring data analysis and waveform extraction capability. We use our method to find the waveforms for the reported events from the first, second, and third LIGO observation runs (O1, O2, and O3). Using the instantaneous frequencies derived by the Hilbert transform of the extracted waveforms, we provide the physical time delays between the arrivals of gravitational waves to the detectors.

Childhood recurrent abdominal pain and Helicobacter pylori infection, Islamic Republic of Iran.

We examined the role of Helicobacter pylori infection as a cause of recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) among Iranian children in a population-based case-control study to determine the association between H. pylori infection and RAP among schoolchildren. A total of 1558 children aged 6-13 years were examined. Children with RAP confirmed by the Apley and Naish criteria were selected; 145 cases were selected for inclusion and were compared with 145 healthy children recruited from the same area. Both groups underwent stool antigen testing. The prevalence of RAP in the children tested was 9.3%. Children with RAP had a higher H. pylori infection rate than the control group (58.6% vs 44.8%) (OR = 1.744; 95% CI: 1.095-2.776). There was no significant difference between the RAP symptoms in children with positive stool test, i.e. infected with H. pylori, and those whose tests were negative. We identified H. pylori infection in more than 55% of the case group. Therefore, H. pylori infection can be considered an important factor for RAP in children.

Childhood recurrent abdominal pain and Helicobacter pylori infection, Islamic Republic of Iran

We examined the role of Helicobacter pylori infection as a cause of recurrent abdominal pain [RAP] among Iranian children in a population-based case-control study to determine the association between H. pylori infection and RAP among schoolchildren. A total of 1558 children aged 6-13 years were examined. Children with RAP confirmed by the Apley and Naish criteria were selected; 145 cases were selected for inclusion and were compared with 145 healthy children recruited from the same area. Both groups underwent stool antigen testing. The prevalence of RAP in the children tested was 9.3%. Children with RAP had a higher H. pylori infection rate than the control group [58.6% vs 44.8%] [OR = 1.744; 95% CI: 1.095-2.776]. There was no significant difference between the RAP symptoms in children with positive stool test, i.e. infected with H. pylori, and those whose tests were negative. We identified H. pylori infection in more than 55% of the case group. Therefore, H. pylori infection can be considered an important factor for RAP in children

Nous avons examiné le rôle de l'infection par Helicobacter pylori en tant que cause de douleur abdominale récurrente parmi des enfants iraniens au cours d'une étude cas-témoin populationnelle afin de déterminer l'association entre cette infection et la douleur abdominale récurrente chez les enfants scolarisés. Au total, 1558 enfants âgés de 6 à 13 ans ont été examinés. Des enfants souffrant d'une douleur abdominale récurrente confirmée selon les critères définis par Apley et Naish ont été sélectionnés: 145 cas répondant au critère d'inclusion ont été comparés avec 145 enfants en bonne santé de la même région. Les deux groupes ont été soumis à un test de recherche d'antigènes dans les selles. L'incidence de la douleur abdominale récurrente testée était de 9,3%. Les enfants ayant une douleur abdominale récurrente présentaient un taux d'infection par H. pylori plus élevé que le groupe témoin [58,6% contre 44,8% ; OR = 1,744 et IC à 95%: 1,095-2,776]. Il n'y avait pas de différence significative entre les symptômes de douleur abdominale récurrente chez les enfants ayant des coprocultures positives, donc une infection par H. pylori, et ceux dont les tests étaient négatifs. Nous avons identifié une infection par H. pylori chez plus de 55% d'enfants du groupe témoin. Par conséquent, l'infection par H. pylori peut être considérée comme un facteur important de douleur abdominale chez l'enfant

Prehospital treatment of burns: a qualitative study of experiences, perceptions and reactions of victims.

BACKGROUND: The manner in which burns are initially managed, at an incident scene, can affect the extent and depth of burn wounds and their final prognosis. The aim of this study was to understand people's experiences, perceptions and reactions towards the initial management of burns and fire accidents in Ardabil Province, Iran. METHODS: In a qualitative study, 48 burn victims accompanied by their caregivers were enrolled. Focus group discussion (FGD) was used to collect data. All the interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using content analysis method. RESULTS: Four categories of information were retrieved in this study, including fire control, scald and burn wound management, seeking medical consultation and severity indicators. Uncertainty regarding what to do when someone catches fire was an evident finding that was explored through the discussions. The results revealed that transferring the patient to the hospital most often takes place after initial treatments administered at home. People believed that cooling a burn wound for a time longer than a few seconds may harm the wound. A strong belief in the efficacy of traditional remedies was disclosed when the statements of participants revealed that traditional or home-made remedies were widely used either to control pain immediately after burn and later during the wound repair process to accelerate the repair or to control the infection and prevent oedema and scar. Among these remedies, pennyroyal and grated potatoes seemed to be the most popular ones. Pennyroyal was thought to prevent infection and potatoes were used to relieve pain. People doubted the capability of health-care workers who work in rural health houses. People considered electrical burns and burns on the chest to be the most severe types of burns. CONCLUSION: Inappropriate perceptions regarding initial management of burns existed among the participants that should be addressed in future quantitative research or through developing programmes on secondary prevention of burns.

Evidence for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on nasal trigeminal nerve endings of the rat.

The peripheral chemoreceptors of the trigeminal system in the nasal cavity are presumed to be free nerve endings arising from Adelta and C fibers. These fibers appear to be scattered throughout the nasal epithelium, and arise from the nasopalatine and ethmoid branches of the trigeminal nerve. In the present study, the effects of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) blockers on ethmoid nerve responses to nicotine and cyclohexanone were examined. Multiunit neural recordings were obtained from the ethmoid nerve of Sprague-Dawley rats. Vapor-phase nicotine (12.5 p.p.m.) and cyclohexanone (450 p.p. m.) were delivered to the rats' nares via an air-dilution olfactometer. The magnitude of the response to nicotine decreased after the administration of the nAChR blockers dihydro-beta-erythroidine hydrobromide (DHBE) and mecamylamine hydrochloride. DHBE is a competitive nicotinic receptor antagonist specific for the alpha4beta2 receptor subtype and mecamylamine is known to bind alpha3beta4 and alpha4beta2 receptors. The nAChR blockers had no effect on ethmoid nerve responses to cyclohexanone. These results suggest that the mechanism by which at least one irritant stimulates nasal trigeminal nerve endings involves the binding of irritant with a specific receptor.