Topological Quantum Field Theory and Seiberg-Witten Monopoles

A topological quantum field theory is introduced which reproduces the Seiberg-Witten invariants of four-manifolds. Dimensional reduction of this topological field theory leads to a new one in three dimensions. Its partition function yields a three-manifold invariant, which can be regarded as the Seiberg-Witten version of Casson's invariant. A Geometrical interpretation of the three dimensional quantum field theory is also given.Comment: 15 pages, Latex file, no figure

The spectral shift function and spectral flow

This paper extends Krein's spectral shift function theory to the setting of semifinite spectral triples. We define the spectral shift function under these hypotheses via Birman-Solomyak spectral averaging formula and show that it computes spectral flow.Comment: 47 page

Differential Effects of Race and Poverty on Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions

This study is a continuation of an earlier study that examined hospitalization rates for ambulatory care sensitive (ACS) conditions, as a proxy for quality of care, and found evidence of a racial disparity among African American and White Medicare beneficiaries. The current study sought to determine whether neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) explained this disparity. Differences in rates of ACS hospitalizations by race were assessed using Cochran-Mantel Haenszel tests and Poisson regression. Unadjusted rate ratios for ACS hospitalization for African Americans vs. Whites were found to be higher in low poverty areas (rate ratio (RR)=1.13; 95% CI (1.08, 1.17)) than in high poverty areas (RR=0.97; 95% CI (0.89, 1.05)). After controlling for various indicators of area SES in multivariate analyses race differences in ACS hospitalization rates persisted. Rural neighborhoods and those with higher percent of non-high school graduates were associated with greater risk of ACS hospitalizations

Spinor Parallel Propagator and Green's Function in Maximally Symmetric Spaces

We introduce the spinor parallel propagator for maximally symmetric spaces in any dimension. Then, the Dirac spinor Green's functions in the maximally symmetric spaces R^n, S^n and H^n are calculated in terms of intrinsic geometric objects. The results are covariant and coordinate-independent.Comment: 7 page

Performance of Laying Hens Fed Increasing Amounts of Lysine in Low Protein Diets

The current N.R.C. (1977) recommendations for lysine content of laying hen rations is 0.60%. This level of lysine is recommended along with 15% protein. The influence of protein level or protein quality on this requirement is not known. This experiment examined laying hen performance over a range (0.55% to 0.80%) of lysine levels in 10% and 12% protein diets to determine optimum lysine intake. Also, the influence of the addition of the amino acids isoleucine and tryptophan to the 10% protein diet was studied

Strain Differential in Amino Acid Requirements for Laying Hens

This study involved the effects of amino acid supplementation of a low protein layer diet on egg production of two strains of chickens

Malignancy within a tail gut cyst:a case of retrorectal carcinoid tumour

Purpose. Tailgut cysts with malignant transformation are rare entities. We discuss the diagnostic strategy and treatment of a malignancy within a tailgut cyst. Methods. In this study we report on the case of a 61-year-old man with a malignant neuroendocrine tumour arising within a tailgut cyst and an overview of the literature emphasising the histopathological characteristics and differential diagnosis. Results. Our patient presented with lower back pain, rectal pain, and increased urgency of defecation. MRI scan and CT-guided biopsy on histological analysis revealed a diagnosis of carcinoid tumour of the presacral space. The patient subsequently underwent an abdominoperineal excision of the rectum. Conclusions. This case highlights the importance of tailgut cysts as a differential diagnosis of presacral masses. It is a rare congenital lesion developing from remnants of the embryonic postanal gut and is predominantly benign in nature. Approximately half of cases remain asymptomatic; therefore, diagnosis is often delayed. Magnetic resonance imaging is the investigation of choice and an awareness of the possibility of malignant potential is critical to avoiding missed diagnosis and subsequent morbidity. Complete surgical excision allows accurate diagnosis, confirmation of oncological clearance, and prevention of mortality

Importance of site of infection and antibiotic selection in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis

ABSTRACT In a retrospective analysis of 215 patients with carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis, we observed a significantly higher risk of mortality associated with respiratory tract infection (risk ratio [RR], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.39; P = 0.010) and lower risk with urinary tract infection (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.90; P = 0.004). Aminoglycoside monotherapy was associated with increased mortality, even after adjusting for confounders (adjusted RR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.85; P = 0.037), consistent across multiple sites of infection. </jats:p

Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidosis due to Gain-of-Function Mutation in STAT1

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) is a heterogenous group of primary immunodeficiency diseases characterised by susceptibility to chronic or recurrent superficial Candida infection of skin, nails and mucous membranes. Gain-of-function mutations in the STAT1 gene (STAT1-GOF) are the most common genetic aetiology for CMC, and mutation analysis should be considered. These mutations lead to defective responses in type 1 and type 17 helper T cells (Th1 and Th17), which, depending on the mutation, also predispose to infection with Staphylococci, Mycobacteria & Herpesviridae. We describe the clinical and genetic findings for three patients with CMC due to gain-of-function mutations in the STAT1 gene. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved