Quantitative Disorder Effects in Low-Dimensional Spin Systems.

The Imry-Ma phenomenon, predicted in 1975 by Imry and Ma and rigorously established in 1989 by Aizenman and Wehr, states that first-order phase transitions of low-dimensional spin systems are 'rounded' by the addition of a quenched random field coupled to the quantity undergoing the transition. The phenomenon applies to a wide class of spin systems in dimensions and to spin systems possessing a continuous symmetry in dimensions . This work provides quantitative estimates for the Imry-Ma phenomenon: in a cubic domain of side length , we study the effect of the boundary conditions on the spatial and thermal average of the quantity coupled to the random field.

Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements by optical coherence tomography in patients with sleep apnoea syndrome.

Background: The study aims to investigate whether retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) abnormalities can be detected in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome with normally appearing optic disc.

Design: This is an observational case-control study.

Participants: One hundred and eight consecutive patients with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) as determined by overnight polysomnography and normal looking discs and 108 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study.

Factors affecting the decision to be treated with continuous positive airway pressure for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, accidents and high medical expenses. The first line of treatment for OSAS is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Objectives: To examine attitudes and beliefs as well as physiological and sociodemographic factors affecting OSA patients' decision whether or not to purchase a CPAP device.

Forty- versus 20-minute trials of the maintenance of wakefulness test regimen for licensing of drivers.

Study Objectives: Objective assessment of the ability to maintain wakefulness, although very important, is still equivocal. A recent study from our lab has shown that the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), when performed with the 20-minute protocol (MWT20), is unreliable in assessing patients who are highly motivated to maintain wakefulness. In this study, we sought to examine whether the 40-minute protocol (MWT40) is a better tool in assessing such individuals.

Validation of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Hebrew translation (PSQI-H) in a sleep clinic sample.

Background: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index is a standardized self-administered questionnaire for the assessment of subjective sleep quality. It has been translated into several languages and is widely used in clinical research studies.

Objectives: To assess the reliability and validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Hebrew translation in a sleep clinic sample and in comparison with the Technion Mini Sleep Questionnaire.

The 20-min trial of the maintenance of wakefulness test is profoundly affected by motivation.

Assessment of the ability to maintain wakefulness, although very important both for research and for clinical purposes, is still equivocal. The current gold standard is considered the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), although there are two different potential protocols to perform it and the normal reference range has been determined on selected populations. The effect of potential "penalty" on failing the test (i.

The prevalence of glaucoma in patients with sleep apnea syndrome: same as in the general population.

Purpose: An association of glaucoma and sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) has been widely reported. We investigated the largest group of patients with SAS thus far to determine the prevalence of glaucoma among these patients.

Design: Cross-sectional study.