On the completeness of impulsive gravitational wave space-times

We consider a class of impulsive gravitational wave space-times, which generalize impulsive pp-waves. They are of the form $M=N\times\mathbb{R}^2_1$, where $(N,h)$ is a Riemannian manifold of arbitrary dimension and $M$ carries the line element $ds^2=dh^2+ 2dudv+f(x)\delta(u)du^2$ with $dh^2$ the line element of $N$ and $\delta$ the Dirac measure. We prove a completeness result for such space-times $M$ with complete Riemannian part $N$.Comment: 13 pages, minor changes suggested by the referee

Convective motions and net circular polarization in sunspot penumbrae

We have employed a penumbral model, that includes the Evershed flow and convective motions inside penumbral filaments, to reproduce the azimuthal variation of the net circular polarization (NCP) in sunspot penumbrae at different heliocentric angles for two different spectral lines. The theoretical net circular polarization fits the observations as satisfactorily as penumbral models based on flux-tubes. The reason for this is that the effect of convective motions on the NCP is very small compared to the effect of the Evershed flow. In addition, the NCP generated by convective upflows cancels out the NCP generated by the downflows. We have also found that, in order to fit the observed NCP, the strength of the magnetic field inside penumbral filaments must be very close to 1000 G. In particular, field-free or weak-field filaments fail to reproduce both the correct sign of the net circular polarization, as well as its dependence on the azimuthal and heliocentric angles.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 10 pages, 7 figures (3 in color). Uses emulatedap

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Opioids in Postsurgical Dental Pain

Postsurgical dental pain is mainly driven by inflammation, particularly through the generation of prostaglandins via the cyclooxygenase system. Thus, it is no surprise that numerous randomized placebo-controlled trials studying acute pain following the surgical extraction of impacted third molars have demonstrated the remarkable efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, etodolac, diclofenac, and ketorolac in this prototypic condition of acute inflammatory pain. Combining an optimal dose of an NSAID with an appropriate dose of acetaminophen appears to further enhance analgesic efficacy and potentially reduce the need for opioids. In addition to being on average inferior to NSAIDs as analgesics in postsurgical dental pain, opioids produce a higher incidence of side effects in dental outpatients, including dizziness, drowsiness, psychomotor impairment, nausea/vomiting, and constipation. Unused opioids are also subject to misuse and diversion, and they may cause addiction. Despite these risks, some dental surgical outpatients may benefit from a 1- or 2-d course of opioids added to their NSAID regimen. NSAID use may carry significant risks in certain patient populations, in which a short course of an acetaminophen/opioid combination may provide a more favorable benefit versus risk ratio than an NSAID regimen. © International & American Associations for Dental Research 2020

Design criteria of the bolometer diagnostic for steady-state operation of the W7-X stellarator

A bolometric diagnostic system with features necessary for steady-state operation in the superconducting stellarator W7-X was designed. During a pulse length of 1800 s with an ECRH (electron cyclotron resonance heating) power of 10 MW, the components suffer not only from a large thermal load but also from stray radiation of the nonabsorbed isotropic microwaves. This paper gives an overview of the technical problems encountered during the design work and the solutions to individual problems to meet the special requirements in W7-X, e.g., component thermal protection, detector offset thermal drift suppression, as well as a microwave shielding technique. © 2010 American Institute of Physic

Optimizing end-labeled free-solution electrophoresis by increasing the hydrodynamic friction of the drag-tag

We study the electrophoretic separation of polyelectrolytes of varying lengths by means of end-labeled free-solution electrophoresis (ELFSE). A coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation model, using full electrostatic interactions and a mesoscopic Lattice Boltzmann fluid to account for hydrodynamic interactions, is used to characterize the drag coefficients of different label types: linear and branched polymeric labels, as well as transiently bound micelles. It is specifically shown that the label's drag coefficient is determined by its hydrodynamic size, and that the drag per label monomer is largest for linear labels. However, the addition of side chains to a linear label offers the possibility to increase the hydrodynamic size, and therefore the label efficiency, without having to increase the linear length of the label, thereby simplifying synthesis. The third class of labels investigated, transiently bound micelles, seems very promising for the usage in ELFSE, as they provide a significant higher hydrodynamic drag than the other label types. The results are compared to theoretical predictions, and we investigate how the efficiency of the ELFSE method can be improved by using smartly designed drag-tags.Comment: 32 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Macromolecule

COVID-19 infection in patients with history of pediatric heart transplant in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

COVID-19 is a heterogenous infection-asymptomatic to fatal. While the course of pediatric COVID-19 infections is usually mild or even asymptomatic, individuals after adult heart transplantation are at high risk of a severe infection. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter survey of 16 pediatric heart transplant centers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to evaluate the risk of a severe COVID-19 infection after pediatric heart transplantation between 02/2020 and 06/2021. Twenty-six subjects (11 male) with a median age of 9.77 years at time of transplantation and a median of 4.65 years after transplantation suffered from COVID-19 infection. The median age at time of COVID-10 infection was 17.20 years. Fourteen subjects had an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. The most frequent symptoms were myalgia/fatigue (n = 6), cough (n = 5), rhinitis (n = 5), and loss of taste (n = 5). Only one subject showed dyspnea. Eleven individuals needed therapy in an outpatient setting, four subjects were hospitalized. One person needed oxygen supply, none of the subjects needed non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation. No specific signs for graft dysfunction were found by non-invasive testing. In pediatric heart transplant subjects, COVID-19 infection was mostly asymptomatic or mild. There were no SARS-CoV-2 associated myocardial dysfunction in heart transplant individuals

Plant mitochondrial introns as genetic markers - conservation and variation

Plant genomes are comprised of nuclear, plastid and mitochondrial components characterized by different patterns of inheritance and evolution. Genetic markers from the three genomes provide complementary tools for investigations of inheritance, genetic relationships and phenotypic contributions. Plant mitochondrial genomes are challenging for universal marker development because they are highly variable in terms of size, gene order and intergenic sequences and highly conserved with respect to protein-coding sequences. PCR amplification of introns with primers that anneal to conserved, flanking exons is effective for the development of polymorphic nuclear genome markers. The potential for plant mitochondrial intron polymorphisms to distinguish between congeneric species or intraspecific varieties has not been systematically investigated and is possibly constrained by requirements for intron secondary structure and interactions with co-evolved organelle intron splicing factors. To explore the potential for broadly applicable plant mitochondrial intron markers, PCR primer sets based upon conserved sequences flanking 11 introns common to seven angiosperm species were tested across a range of plant orders. PCR-amplified introns were screened for indel polymorphisms among a group of cross-compatible Citrus species and relatives; two Raphanus sativus mitotypes; representatives of the two Phaseolus vulgaris gene pools; and congeneric pairs of Cynodon, Cenchrus, Solanum, and Vaccinium species. All introns were successfully amplified from each plant entry. Length polymorphisms distinguishable by gel electrophoresis were common among genera but infrequent within genera. Sequencing of three introns amplified from 16 entries identified additional short indel polymorphisms and nucleotide substitutions that separated Citrus, Cynodon, Cenchrus and Vaccinium congeners, but failed to distinguish Solanum congeners or representatives of the Phaseolus vulgaris major gene pools. The ability of primer sets to amplify a wider range of plant species’ introns and the presence of intron polymorphisms that distinguish congeners was confirmed by in silico analysis. While mitochondrial intron variation is limited in comparison to nuclear introns, these exon-based primer sets provide robust tools for the amplification of mitochondrial introns across a wide range of plant species wherein useful polymorphisms can be identified

Imagining new feminist futures:How feminist social movements contest the neoliberalization of feminism in an increasingly corporate‐dominated world

Increasingly it is argued that feminism has been co‐opted by neoliberal agendas: becoming more individualistic and losing touch with its wider social change objectives. The neoliberalization of feminism is driven in part by increased corporate power, including the growing role of corporations in governance arenas, and corporate social responsibility agendas. However, we turn to social movement theory to elucidate strategies that social movements, including feminist social movements, are adopting in such spaces. In so doing, we find that feminist activists are engaging with new political opportunities, mobilizing structures and strategic framing processes that emerge in the context of increasingly neoliberal and privatized governance systems. We suggest that despite the significant challenges to their agendas, far from being co‐opted by neoliberalism, feminist social movements remain robust, existing alongside and developing new strategies to contest the neoliberalization of feminism in a variety of innovative ways