1,722 research outputs found
Spinning Loop Black Holes
In this paper we construct four Kerr-like spacetimes starting from the loop
black hole Schwarzschild solutions (LBH) and applying the Newman-Janis
transformation. In previous papers the Schwarzschild LBH was obtained replacing
the Ashtekar connection with holonomies on a particular graph in a
minisuperspace approximation which describes the black hole interior. Starting
from this solution, we use a Newman-Janis transformation and we specialize to
two different and natural complexifications inspired from the complexifications
of the Schwarzschild and Reissner-Nordstrom metrics. We show explicitly that
the space-times obtained in this way are singularity free and thus there are no
naked singularities. We show that the transformation move, if any, the
causality violating regions of the Kerr metric far from r=0. We study the
space-time structure with particular attention to the horizons shape. We
conclude the paper with a discussion on a regular Reissner-Nordstrom black hole
derived from the Schwarzschild LBH and then applying again the Newmann-Janis
transformation.Comment: 18 pages, 18 figure
Minimal Scales from an Extended Hilbert Space
We consider an extension of the conventional quantum Heisenberg algebra,
assuming that coordinates as well as momenta fulfil nontrivial commutation
relations. As a consequence, a minimal length and a minimal mass scale are
implemented. Our commutators do not depend on positions and momenta and we
provide an extension of the coordinate coherent state approach to
Noncommutative Geometry. We explore, as toy model, the corresponding quantum
field theory in a (2+1)-dimensional spacetime. Then we investigate the more
realistic case of a (3+1)-dimensional spacetime, foliated into noncommutative
planes. As a result, we obtain propagators, which are finite in the ultraviolet
as well as the infrared regime.Comment: 16 pages, version which matches that published on CQ
Galactic rotation curves inspired by a noncommutative-geometry background
This paper discusses the observed at rotation curves of galaxies in the
context of noncommutative geometry. The energy density of such a geometry is
diffused throughout a region due to the uncertainty encoded in the coordinate
commutator. This intrinsic property appears to be sufficient for producing
stable circular orbits, as well as attractive gravity, without the need for
dark matter.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures. Published in Gen.Rel.Grav. 44 (2012) 905-91
Clinical use of biomarkers in breast cancer: Updated guidelines from the European Group on Tumor Markers (EGTM)
Abstract Biomarkers play an essential role in the management of patients with invasive breast cancer. For selecting patients likely to respond to endocrine therapy, both oestrogen receptors (ERs) and progesterone receptors (PRs) should be measured on all newly diagnosed invasive breast cancers. On the other hand, for selecting likely response to all forms of anti-HER2 therapy (trastuzumab, pertuzumab, lapatinib or ado-trastuzumab emtansine), determination of HER2 expression or gene copy number is mandatory. Where feasible, measurement of ER, PR and HER2 should be performed on recurrent lesions and the primary invasive tumour. Although methodological problems exist in the determination of Ki67, because of its clearly established clinical value, wide availability and low costs relative to the available multianalyte signatures, Ki67 may be used for determining prognosis, especially if values are low or high. In oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative, lymph node–negative patients, multianalyte tests such as urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)-PAI-1, Oncotype DX, MammaPrint, EndoPredict, Breast Cancer Index (BCI) and Prosigna (PAM50) may be used to predict outcome and aid adjunct therapy decision-making. Oncotype DX, MammaPrint, EndoPredict and Prosigna may be similarly used in patients with 1–3 metastatic lymph nodes. All laboratories measuring biomarkers for patient management should use analytically and clinically validated assays, participate in external quality assurance programs, have established assay acceptance and rejection criteria, perform regular audits and be accredited by an appropriate organisation
Hawking emission from quantum gravity black holes
We address the issue of modelling quantum gravity effects in the evaporation
of higher dimensional black holes in order to go beyond the usual
semi-classical approximation. After reviewing the existing six families of
quantum gravity corrected black hole geometries, we focus our work on
non-commutative geometry inspired black holes, which encode model independent
characteristics, are unaffected by the quantum back reaction and have an
analytical form compact enough for numerical simulations. We consider the
higher dimensional, spherically symmetric case and we proceed with a complete
analysis of the brane/bulk emission for scalar fields. The key feature which
makes the evaporation of non-commutative black holes so peculiar is the
possibility of having a maximum temperature. Contrary to what happens with
classical Schwarzschild black holes, the emission is dominated by low frequency
field modes on the brane. This is a distinctive and potentially testable
signature which might disclose further features about the nature of quantum
gravity.Comment: 36 pages, 18 figures, v2: updated reference list, minor corrections,
version matching that published on JHE
Autonomic function in amnestic and non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment : spectral heart rate variability analysis provides evidence for a brain–heart axis
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a heterogeneous syndrome with two main clinical subtypes, amnestic (aMCI) and non-amnestic (naMCI). The analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) is a tool to assess autonomic function. Cognitive and autonomic processes are linked via the central autonomic network. Autonomic dysfunction entails several adverse outcomes. However, very few studies have investigated autonomic function in MCI and none have considered MCI subtypes or the relationship of HRV indices with different cognitive domains and structural brain damage. We assessed autonomic function during an active orthostatic challenge in 253 oupatients aged\u2009 65\u200965, [n\u2009=\u200982 aMCI, n\u2009=\u200993 naMCI, n\u2009=\u200978 cognitively normal (CN), neuropsychologically tested] with power spectral analysis of HRV. We used visual rating scales to grade cerebrovascular burden and hippocampal/insular atrophy (HA/IA) on neuroimaging. Only aMCI showed a blunted response to orthostasis. Postural changes in normalised low frequency (LF) power and in the LF to high frequency ratio correlated with a memory test (positively) and HA/IA (negatively) in aMCI, and with attention/executive function tests (negatively) and cerebrovascular burden (positively) in naMCI. These results substantiate the view that the ANS is differentially impaired in aMCI and naMCI, consistently with the neuroanatomic substrate of Alzheimer's and small-vessel subcortical ischaemic disease
Intensive post-operative follow-up of breast cancer patients with tumour markers: CEA, TPA or CA15.3 vs MCA and MCA-CA15.3 vs CEA-TPA-CA15.3 panel in the early detection of distant metastases
BACKGROUND: In breast cancer current guidelines do not recommend the routine use of serum tumour markers. Differently, we observed that CEA-TPA-CA15.3 (carcinoembryonic (CEA) tissue polypeptide (TPA) and cancer associated 115D8/DF3 (CA15.3) antigens) panel permits early detection and treatment for most relapsing patients. As high sensitivity and specificity and different cut-off values have been reported for mucin-like carcinoma associated antigen (MCA), we compared MCA with the above mentioned tumour markers and MCA-CA15.3 with the CEA-TPA-CA15.3 panel. METHODS: In 289 breast cancer patients submitted to an intensive post-operative follow-up with tumour markers, we compared MCA (cut-off values, ≥ 11 and ≥ 15 U/mL) with CEA or CA15.3 or TPA for detection of relapse. In addition, we compared the MCA-CA15.3 and CEA-TPA-CA15.3 tumour marker panels. RESULTS: Distant metastases occurred 19 times in 18 (6.7%) of the 268 patients who were disease-free at the beginning of the study. MCA sensitivity with both cut-off values was higher than that of CEA or TPA or CA15.3 (68% vs 10%, 26%, 32% and 53% vs 16%, 42%, 32% respectively). With cut-off ≥ 11 U/mL, MCA showed the lowest specificity (42%); with cut-off ≥ 15 U/mL, MCA specificity was similar to TPA (73% vs 72%) and lower than that of CEA and CA15.3 (96% and 97% respectively). With ≥ 15 U/mL MCA cut-off, MCA sensitivity increased from 53% to 58% after its association with CA15.3. Sensitivity of CEA-TPA-CA15.3 panel was 74% (14 of 19 recurrences). Eight of the 14 recurrences early detected with CEA-TPA-CA15.3 presented as a single lesion (oligometastatic disease) (5) or were confined to bony skeleton (3) (26% and 16% respectively of the 19 relapses). With ≥ 11 U/mL MCA cut-off, MCA-CA15.3 association showed higher sensitivity but lower specificity, accuracy and positive predictive value than the CEA-TPA-CA15.3 panel. CONCLUSION: At both the evaluated cut-off values serum MCA sensitivity is higher than that of CEA, TPA or CA15.3 but its specificity is similar to or lower than that of TPA. Overall, CEA-TPA-CA15.3 panel is more accurate than MCA-CA15.3 association and can "early" detect a few relapsed patients with limited metastatic disease and more favourable prognosis. These findings further support the need for prospective randomised clinical trial to assess whether an intensive post-operative follow-up with an appropriate use of serum tumour markers can significantly improve clinical outcome of early detected relapsing patients
Comparing extrapolations of the coronal magnetic field structure at 2.5 solar radii with multi-viewpoint coronagraphic observations
The magnetic field shapes the structure of the solar corona but we still know
little about the interrelationships between the coronal magnetic field
configurations and the resulting quasi-stationary structures observed in
coronagraphic images (as streamers, plumes, coronal holes). One way to obtain
information on the large-scale structure of the coronal magnetic field is to
extrapolate it from photospheric data and compare the results with
coronagraphic images. Our aim is to verify if this comparison can be a fast
method to check systematically the reliability of the many methods available to
reconstruct the coronal magnetic field. Coronal fields are usually extrapolated
from photospheric measurements typically in a region close to the central
meridian on the solar disk and then compared with coronagraphic images at the
limbs, acquired at least 7 days before or after to account for solar rotation,
implicitly assuming that no significant changes occurred in the corona during
that period. In this work, we combine images from three coronagraphs
(SOHO/LASCO-C2 and the two STEREO/SECCHI-COR1) observing the Sun from different
viewing angles to build Carrington maps covering the entire corona to reduce
the effect of temporal evolution to ~ 5 days. We then compare the position of
the observed streamers in these Carrington maps with that of the neutral lines
obtained from four different magnetic field extrapolations, to evaluate the
performances of the latter in the solar corona. Our results show that the
location of coronal streamers can provide important indications to discriminate
between different magnetic field extrapolations.Comment: Accepted by A&A the 20th of May, 201
Effect of Minimal lengths on Electron Magnetism
We study the magnetic properties of electron in a constant magnetic field and
confined by a isotropic two dimensional harmonic oscillator on a space where
the coordinates and momenta operators obey generalized commutation relations
leading to the appearance of a minimal length. Using the momentum space
representation we determine exactly the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions.
We prove that the usual degeneracy of Landau levels is removed by the presence
of the minimal length in the limits of weak and strong magnetic field.The
thermodynamical properties of the system, at high temperature, are also
investigated showing a new magnetic behavior in terms of the minimal length.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figur
Linearized stability analysis of gravastars in noncommutative geometry
In this work, we find exact gravastar solutions in the context of
noncommutative geometry, and explore their physical properties and
characteristics. The energy density of these geometries is a smeared and
particle-like gravitational source, where the mass is diffused throughout a
region of linear dimension due to the intrinsic uncertainty
encoded in the coordinate commutator. These solutions are then matched to an
exterior Schwarzschild spacetime. We further explore the dynamical stability of
the transition layer of these gravastars, for the specific case of
, where M is the black hole mass, to linearized
spherically symmetric radial perturbations about static equilibrium solutions.
It is found that large stability regions exist and, in particular, located
sufficiently close to where the event horizon is expected to form.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
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