Geons with spin and charge

We construct new geon-type black holes in D>3 dimensions for Einstein's theory coupled to gauge fields. A static nondegenerate vacuum black hole has a geon quotient provided the spatial section admits a suitable discrete isometry, and an antisymmetric tensor field of rank 2 or D-2 with a pure F^2 action can be included by an appropriate (and in most cases nontrivial) choice of the field strength bundle. We find rotating geons as quotients of the Myers-Perry(-AdS) solution when D is odd and not equal to 7. For other D we show that such rotating geons, if they exist at all, cannot be continuously deformed to zero angular momentum. With a negative cosmological constant, we construct geons with angular momenta on a torus at the infinity. As an example of a nonabelian gauge field, we show that the D=4 spherically symmetric SU(2) black hole admits a geon version with a trivial gauge bundle. Various generalisations, including both black-brane geons and Yang-Mills theories with Chern-Simons terms, are briefly discussed.Comment: 26 pages, 1 figure. LaTeX with amssymb, amsmath. (v2: References and a figure added.

Disease concepts and treatment by tribal healers of an Amazonian forest culture

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The extensive medicinal plant knowledge of Amazonian tribal peoples is widely recognized in the scientific literature and celebrated in popular lore. Despite this broad interest, the ethnomedical systems and knowledge of disease which guide indigenous utilization of botanical diversity for healing remain poorly characterized and understood. No study, to our knowledge, has attempted to directly examine patterns of actual disease recognition and treatment by healers of an Amazonian indigenous culture.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The establishment of traditional medicine clinics, operated and directed by elder tribal shamans in two remote Trio villages of the Suriname rainforest, presented a unique investigational opportunity. Quantitative analysis of clinic records from both villages permitted examination of diseases treated over a continuous period of four years. Cross-cultural comparative translations were articulated of recorded disease conditions through ethnographic interviews of elder Trio shamans and a comprehensive atlas of indigenous anatomical nomenclature was developed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>20,337 patient visits within the period 2000 to 2004 were analyzed. 75 disease conditions and 127 anatomical terms are presented. Trio concepts of disease and medical practices are broadly examined within the present and historical state of their culture.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings of this investigation support the presence of a comprehensive and highly formalized ethnomedical institution within Trio culture with attendant health policy and conservation implications.</p

Elevating your breast program to the next level.

This paper describes a series of steps taken to elevate the Hoag Breast Program to the next level. The hope is that some of our ideas will be useful to you and your breast program

A minimally invasive breast biopsy clinic: an innovative way to teach breast fellows how to perform breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast procedures

Background The ability to perform breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast procedures are increasingly important skills for breast surgeons. Breast fellowship programs must develop programs to ensure adequate ultrasound training for breast fellows. Methods A Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy Clinic was established at the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center to provide breast fellows with comprehensive, hands-on, \u93live-patient\u94 breast ultrasound training. Results From December 2004 though February 2005, 5 breast fellows received training in the Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy Clinic. Each fellow received a minimum of 18 weeks of \u93live-patient\u94 experience. Although the learning curve varied among the fellows, all showed proficiency in performing breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided core biopsies by the 12th week. A total of 39 patients with fibroadenomas underwent 62 ultrasound-guided procedures, including 30 vacuum-assisted percutaneous excisions, 16 cryoablations, and 16 core biopsies. Conclusion The Minimally Invasive Breast Clinic model provided breast fellows with sufficient \u93live-patient\u94 experience to enable confident performance of breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast procedures. The selection of patients with fibroadenomas facilitated safe and efficient training without interfering with the management of cancer patients

Margin width as the sole determinant of local recurrence after breast conservation in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

Background A previous study showed a 3% local recurrence risk at 8 years in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients treated with excision alone with surgical margins of 10 mm or greater. This study updates those data. Methods A total of 272 DCIS patients treated conservatively with 10 mm or greater margins were reviewed in a prospective database. Results Among 212 excision-alone patients, there were 9 DCIS and 3 invasive recurrences. The 12-year probability of any local recurrence was 13.9%; of invasive recurrence it was 3.4%. Among 60 excision plus radiation patients, there was 1 local (invasive) recurrence (P =3D .06). The 12-year probability of local recurrence was 2.5%. Conclusions Local recurrence in DCIS patients treated with excision alone with margins of 10 mm or greater compares favorably with local recurrence in DCIS patients with nontransected margins and treated with postoperative radiation. The risk of invasive recurrence among widely excised DCIS patients is extremely low