Thermodynamic equilibrium and its stability for Microcanonical systems described by the Sharma-Taneja-Mittal entropy

It is generally assumed that the thermodynamic stability of equilibrium state is reflected by the concavity of entropy. We inquire, in the microcanonical picture, on the validity of this statement for systems described by the bi-parametric entropy $S_{_{\kappa, r}}$ of Sharma-Taneja-Mittal. We analyze the ``composability'' rule for two statistically independent systems, A and B, described by the entropy $S_{_{\kappa, r}}$ with the same set of the deformed parameters. It is shown that, in spite of the concavity of the entropy, the ``composability'' rule modifies the thermodynamic stability conditions of the equilibrium state. Depending on the values assumed by the deformed parameters, when the relation $S_{_{\kappa, r}}({\rm A}\cup{\rm B})> S_{_{\kappa, r}}({\rm A})+S_{_{\kappa, r}}({\rm B})$ holds (super-additive systems), the concavity conditions does imply the thermodynamics stability. Otherwise, when the relation $S_{_{\kappa, r}}({\rm A}\cup{\rm B})<S_{_{\kappa, r}}({\rm A})+S_{_{\kappa, r}}({\rm B})$ holds (sub-additive systems), the concavity conditions does not imply the thermodynamical stability of the equilibrium state.Comment: 13 pages, two columns, 1 figure, RevTex4, version accepted on PR

Effects of soy lecithin and distilled monoglyceride in combination with tallow on nutrien digestibility, serum lipids, and growth performance in weanling pigs

Four hundred twenty pigs (21 d of age and 12.3 lb avg initial wt) were used to determine if adding soybean oil, lecithin, and monoglyceride to diets containing tallow affects nutrient digestibility, serum lipids, and growth performance. Treatments were: 1) a high nutrient density diet (HNOD) with 10% soybean oil; 2) HNDD with 10% tallow; 3, 4, and 5) diet 2 with 9% tallow and 1% soybean oil, lecithin, and monoglyceride, respectively. Adding soybean oil, lecithin, and monoglyceride to tallow increased digestibility of total fat, longchain saturated fatty acids, and medium-chain fatty acids, but reduced serum concentrations of triglycerides and total, HDL (high density lipoprotein), and LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol. From d 0 to 14, pigs fed soybean oil had greater ADG and ADFI than pigs fed the other treatments, and pigs fed tallow without emulsifiers had the lowest ADFI. From d 0 to 7 and 0 to 14, pigs fed diets with lecithin had improved F/G compared to pigs fed monoglyceride. For d 0 to 35, fat source or emulsitier treatment did not affect growth performance. The addition of emulsifiers increased digestibility of tallow but had only small effects on growth performance early in the nursery phase.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 21. 199

Placental site trophoblastic tumour: a rare but potentially curable cancer

Placental site trophoblastic tumour (PSTT) is a rare form of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). We have conducted an analysis of all cases of PSTT managed at the Trophoblastic Disease Screening and Treatment Centre, Sheffield, from 1984 to 1996. During this time we received 4988 registrations for GTD and managed seven cases of PSTT. A large range of interval between antecedent pregnancy and presentation was observed – the most common presenting symptoms being irregular vaginal bleeding with or without preceding amenorrhoea. Three out of seven patients had disease confined to the uterus at diagnosis and were successfully treated by hysterectomy alone. Two out of seven patients had pulmonary metastases in addition to uterine tumour and were treated with combination chemotherapy – both are alive and well. Of the remaining two patients one had distant and the other loco-regional metastases and both died despite numerous therapeutic interventions. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

UC-240 Gone Fishin\u27 VR

Gone Fishing is a VR game that allows the player to fish from the comfort of their own home. This take on a fishing simulator has creative and playful designs that are sure to surprise the players. With this game, we intend to invoke different comedic aspects found in other games such as designs, descriptions, and possible voiceovers in order to give the players a good time. This isn’t the average fishing simulator

Copy number gain at 12q12-14 may be important in the transformation from follicular lymphoma to diffuse large B cell lymphoma

The purpose of this study was to identify novel areas of genomic copy number change associated with transformation from follicular lymphoma (FL) to diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBL). DNA was extracted from tumour cells micro-dissected from paraffin- embedded tissue sections in 24 patients with FL and subsequent transformation to DLBL and 18 patients with de novo DLBL. Tumour DNA was compared to reference DNA using comparative genomic hybridization. Abnormalities common to all 3 groups were gains on chromosomes 4q, 5q, 7q, 11q and X and losses on 3p, 8p and 10q. Copy number changes seen in both transformed and de novo DLBL and not seen in FL were gains on 2p and losses on 1q, 15q and Xq. Gains on 2q, 6p, 7p and 17q and losses on 5p and 8q were specific to transformed DLBL cases. Gain on 12q12-14 was found in 52% of the transformed DLBL cases and was never seen in its follicular counterpart. Patterns of genomic copy number change associated with specific clinical events in NHL have been demonstrated and suggest that gains on 2q, 6p, 7p, 12q and 17q and losses on 5p and 8q may be important in the transformation from low to high-grade disease. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

Primordial fluctuations from nonlinear couplings

We study the spectrum of primordial fluctuations in theories where the inflaton field is coupled to massless fields and/or to itself. Conformally invariant theories generically predict a scale invariant spectrum. Scales entering the theory through infrared divergences cause logarithmic corrections to the spectrum, tiltilng it towards the blue. We discuss in some detail whether these fluctuations are quantum or classical in nature.Comment: 12 pages, Revtex, we added an appendix clarifying our assumptions about the initial conditions at the beggining of inflatio

Murchison Widefield Array and XMM-Newton observations of the Galactic supernova remnant G5.9+3.1

In this paper we discuss the radio continuum and X-ray properties of the so-far poorly studied Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) G5.9+3.1. We present the radio spectral energy distribution (SED) of the Galactic SNR G5.9+3.1 obtained with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). Combining these new observations with the surveys at other radio continuum frequencies, we discuss the integrated radio continuum spectrum of this particular remnant. We have also analyzed an archival XMM-Newton observation, which represents the first detection of X-ray emission from this remnant. The SNR SED is very well explained by a simple power-law relation. The synchrotron radio spectral index of G5.9+3.1, is estimated to be 0.42$\pm$0.03 and the integrated flux density at 1GHz to be around 2.7Jy. Furthermore, we propose that the identified point radio source, located centrally inside the SNR shell, is most probably a compact remnant of the supernova explosion. The shell-like X-ray morphology of G5.9+3.1 as revealed by XMM-Newton broadly matches the spatial distribution of the radio emission, where the radio-bright eastern and western rims are also readily detected in the X-ray while the radio-weak northern and southern rims are weak or absent in the X-ray. Extracted MOS1+MOS2+PN spectra from the whole SNR as well as the north, east, and west rims of the SNR are fit successfully with an optically thin thermal plasma model in collisional ionization equilibrium with a column density N_H~0.80x$10^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$ and fitted temperatures spanning the range kT~0.14-0.23keV for all of the regions. The derived electron number densities n_e for the whole SNR and the rims are also roughly comparable (ranging from ~$0.20f^{-1/2}$ cm$^{-3}$ to ~$0.40f^{-1/2}$ cm$^{-3}$, where f is the volume filling factor). We also estimate the swept-up mass of the X-ray emitting plasma associated with G5.9+3.1 to be ~$46f^{-1/2}M_{\odot}$.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

Pulmonary function in patients with trophoblastic disease treated with low-dose methotrexate

The Sheffield Trophoblastic Disease Centre treats about 25 patients with persistent trophoblastic disease each year. A total of 75% of patients are classified as low risk according to the Charing Cross Hospital prognostic scoring system and receive methotrexate (MTX) 50 mg, i.m., on days 1, 3, 5, 7 with folinic acid 7.5 mg orally 24 h after each methotrexate injection. There is a 7-day rest between treatment cycles. Remission is achieved in 85% of cases. Approximately 20% of patients experienced pleuritic chest pain and dyspnoea. We have evaluated prospectively lung function in 16 low-risk patients receiving methotrexate. All patients had pulmonary function tests [spirometry-forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and transfer factor - TLCO, kCO] performed before and after completed treatment. A mean of 7.5 cycles of MTX were administered (range 4-11). There was a significant reduction in the mean TLCO (mean pre/post 8.15/7.38 mmol min-1 kPa-1, P = 0.01), but there were no other statistically significant changes. Three patients experienced respiratory symptoms and were found to have a 39%, 28%, and 11% reduction in TLCO from baseline, improving on follow up to pretreatment levels. Low-dose MTX is an effective therapy but may cause troublesome pulmonary toxicity

Calibration and Stokes Imaging with Full Embedded Element Primary Beam Model for the Murchison Widefield Array

15 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in PASA. © Astronomical Society of Australia 2017The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), located in Western Australia, is one of the low-frequency precursors of the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project. In addition to pursuing its own ambitious science program, it is also a testbed for wide range of future SKA activities ranging from hardware, software to data analysis. The key science programs for the MWA and SKA require very high dynamic ranges, which challenges calibration and imaging systems. Correct calibration of the instrument and accurate measurements of source flux densities and polarisations require precise characterisation of the telescope's primary beam. Recent results from the MWA GaLactic Extragalactic All-sky MWA (GLEAM) survey show that the previously implemented Average Embedded Element (AEE) model still leaves residual polarisations errors of up to 10-20 % in Stokes Q. We present a new simulation-based Full Embedded Element (FEE) model which is the most rigorous realisation yet of the MWA's primary beam model. It enables efficient calculation of the MWA beam response in arbitrary directions without necessity of spatial interpolation. In the new model, every dipole in the MWA tile (4 x 4 bow-tie dipoles) is simulated separately, taking into account all mutual coupling, ground screen and soil effects, and therefore accounts for the different properties of the individual dipoles within a tile. We have applied the FEE beam model to GLEAM observations at 200 - 231 MHz and used false Stokes parameter leakage as a metric to compare the models. We have determined that the FEE model reduced the magnitude and declination-dependent behaviour of false polarisation in Stokes Q and V while retaining low levels of false polarisation in Stokes U.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

An Examination of the Relationship Between Perfectionism and Neurological Functioning

Clinical perfectionism is the rigid pursuit of high standards, interfering with functioning. Little research has explored neural patterns in clinical perfectionism. The present study explores neural correlates of clinical perfectionism, before and after receiving ten 50-minute, weekly sessions of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), as compared to low-perfectionist controls, in specific cortical structures: the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), right inferior parietal lobule (IPL). Participants in the perfectionist condition (n = 43) were from a randomized controlled trial evaluating ACT for clinical perfectionism and low-perfectionist controls were undergraduate students (n = 12). Participants completed three tasks (editing a passage, mirror image tracing, circle tracing) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure neural activation. Results indicate that only the mirror image tracing task was associated with reduced HbT in the DLPFC and MPFC of the perfectionists whereas activation in the other tasks were relatively similar. There were no differences were observed in the right DLPFC, MPFC, and right IPL between the posttreatment perfectionist and non-perfectionist control groups. Our findings suggest an unclear relationship between neural activation and perfectionism