Comments on black holes in bubbling spacetimes

In five-dimensional minimal supergravity, there are spherical black holes with nontrivial topology outside the horizon which have the same conserved charges at infinity as the BMPV solution. We show that some of these black holes have greater entropy than the BMPV solution. These spacetimes are all asymptotically flat, stationary, and supersymmetric. We also show that there is a limit in which the black hole shrinks to zero size and the solution becomes a nonsingular "bubbling" geometry. Thus, these solutions provide explicit analytic examples of placing black holes inside solitons.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures; v2: references adde

Hürthle cell-predominant thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology: A four risk-factor model highly accurate in excluding malignancy and predicting neoplasm

BACKGROUND: Interpretation of Hürthle cell-predominant cytologies (HCP) is very challenging as a majority is diagnosed as indeterminate. Prior studies have reported various cytologic features to help distinguish non-neoplastic (NN) from neoplastic and malignant lesions but had contradicting results. Our aim was to identify risk factors predictive of neoplasm and/or malignancy by correlating cytologic features with clinical and ultrasound findings. METHODS: Sixty-nine HCP cases with surgical follow-up were identified, including 35 NN, 20 adenomas, and 14 carcinomas. Ultrasound data were recorded utilizing Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) and American Thyroid Association (ATA) scoring systems. Sixteen cytologic criteria were evaluated and semi-quantitatively scored. Data were assessed by univariable, multivariable and stepwise logistic regression analysis; and statistical significance achieved at P-value \u3c0.05. RESULTS: On univariable analysis, significant predictors of neoplasm were high cellularity, isolated single cells, absent colloid, non-uniform HC population (anisonucleosis), larger nodule size, and higher ATA score. Large-cell dysplasia and transgressing blood vessels were not found to be significant factors. Multivariable analysis identified a combination of four risk factors (high cellularity, anisonucleosis, absent colloid, and size ≥2.9 cm) that was associated with neoplasm in 10/11 patients. None of 15 patients with zero or 1 out of 4 risk factors had malignancy or neoplasm on follow-up. This model also significantly outperformed ATA and TI-RADS scoring systems. CONCLUSION: In the absence of four or three risk factors, the model excluded malignancy and neoplasm in all patients. The presence of all four factors predicted neoplasm and malignancy in 91% and 46% of cases, respectively

Surgical treatment of endometriosis: a 7-year follow-up on the requirement for further surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the need for further surgery after laparoscopic excision of endometriosis or hysterectomy. METHODS: In this retrospective study, women who had surgery for endometriosis-associated pain at the Cleveland Clinic were assessed for requirement for subsequent surgery. One hundred twenty patients who underwent hysterectomy with or without oophorectomy for endometriosis and 120 patients who had laparoscopic excision of their endometriotic lesions only (local excision group) formed the study population. Estimates of reoperation-free survival at 2, 5, and 7 years were calculated using Kaplan-Meier methods, and estimates of risk (hazard ratios) were computed using Cox proportional hazards models. A significance level of .05 was assumed for all tests. RESULTS: In women who underwent local excision with ovarian preservation, the surgery-free percentages were 79.4%, 53.3%, and 44.6%, respectively, at 2, 5, and 7 years. In women who underwent hysterectomy with ovarian preservation, the 2-, 5-, and 7-year reoperation-free percentages were 95.7%, 86.6%, and 77.0%, respectively. In women who underwent hysterectomy without ovarian preservation, the percentages were 96.0%, 91.7%, and 91.7%, respectively. However, in women between 30 and 39 years of age, removal of the ovaries did not significantly improve the surgery-free time. CONCLUSION: Local excision of endometriosis is associated with good short-term outcomes but, on long-term follow-up, has a high reoperation rate. Hysterectomy is associated with a low reoperation rate. Preservation of the ovaries at the time of hysterectomy remains a viable option. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

Factors associated with telemonitoring use among patients with chronic heart failure

Background In adults with chronic heart failure (HF; defined as people with previously diagnosed left ventricular dysfunction) telemonitoring randomized controlled trials (RCTs) failed to consistently demonstrate improved clinical outcomes. We aimed to examine if patient and HF characteristics are associated with device preferences and use. Methods Using a cross-sectional, multicenter, international design, ambulatory and hospitalized adults with HF in Ohio, California, and Denmark viewed a six-minute video of telemonitoring configurations (tablet, smart phone, and key fob) and completed questionnaires. Comparative analyses were performed and when significant, pairwise comparisons were performed using Bonferroni-adjusted significance levels. Results Of 206 participants, 48.2% preferred smart phones for telemonitoring, especially when traveling (54.8%), with new/worsening symptoms (50%), for everyday use (50%), and connecting with doctors (48.5%). Participants preferred two-way communication and a screen with words over voice or number pads. Of device purposes, allowing for nurse communication ranked highest, followed by maintaining overall health. Very few patient and HF factors were associated with device preferences. Patients with higher health literacy ( p = 0.007), previous/current device use history ( p = 0.008), higher education level ( p = 0.035), and married/cohabitating status ( p = 0.023) had higher perceptions of ease of using devices. Those who were asymptomatic or had mild HF had higher self-confidence for health devices ( p = 0.024) and non-white patients perceived devices as more useful ( p = 0.033). Conclusion Telemonitoring use may be enhanced by simple plug-and-play type devices, two-way communication, and features that meet patients’ personal learning and use needs. </jats:sec

Confinement of discrete breathers in inhomogeneously profiled nonlinear chains

We investigate numerically the scattering of a moving discrete breather on a pair of junctions in a Fermi-Pasta-Ulam chain. These junctions delimit an extended region with different masses of the particles. We consider (i) a rectangular trap, (ii) a wedge shaped trap, and (iii) a smoothly varying convex or concave mass profile. All three cases lead to DB confinement, with the ease of trapping depending on the profile of the trap. We also study the collision and trapping of two DBs within the profile as a function of trap width, shape, and approach time at the two junctions. The latter controls whether one or both DBs are trapped