Ultraviolet Complete Quantum Gravity

An ultraviolet complete quantum gravity theory is formulated in which vertex functions in Feynman graphs are entire functions and the propagating graviton is described by a local, causal propagator. The cosmological constant problem is investigated in the context of the ultraviolet complete quantum gravity.Comment: 11 pages, no figures. Changes to text. Results remain the same. References added. To be published in European Physics Journal Plu

Universality in the Three-Body Problem for 4He Atoms

The two-body scattering length a for 4He atoms is much larger than their effective range r_s. As a consequence, low-energy few-body observables have universal characteristics that are independent of the interaction potential. Universality implies that, up to corrections suppressed by r_s/a, all low-energy three-body observables are determined by a and a three-body parameter \Lambda_*. We give simple expressions in terms of a and \Lambda_* for the trimer binding energy equation, the atom-dimer scattering phase shifts, and the rate for three-body recombination at threshold. We determine \Lambda_* for several 4He potentials from the calculated binding energy of the excited state of the trimer and use it to obtain the universality predictions for the other low-energy observables. We also use the calculated values for one potential to estimate the effective range corrections for the other potentials.Comment: 23 pages, revtex4, 6 ps figures, references added, universal expressions update

THE RATE OF BINARY BLACK HOLE MERGERS INFERRED FROM ADVANCED LIGO OBSERVATIONS SURROUNDING GW150914

A transient gravitational-wave signal, GW150914, was identi fi ed in the twin Advanced LIGO detectors on 2015 September 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC. To asse ss the implications of this discovery, the detectors remained in operation with unchanged con fi gurations over a period of 39 days around the time of t he signal. At the detection statistic threshold corresponding to that observed for GW150914, our search of the 16 days of simultaneous two-detector observational data is estimated to have a false-alarm rate ( FAR ) of < ́ -- 4.9 10 yr 61 , yielding a p -value for GW150914 of < ́ - 210 7 . Parameter estimation follo w-up on this trigger identi fi es its source as a binary black hole ( BBH ) merger with component masses ( )( ) = - + - + mm M ,36,29 12 4 5 4 4 at redshift = - + z 0.09 0.04 0.03 ( median and 90% credible range ) . Here, we report on the constraints these observations place on the rate of BBH coalescences. Considering only GW150914, assuming that all BBHs in the universe have the same masses and spins as this event, imposing a search FAR threshold of 1 per 100 years, and assuming that the BBH merger rate is constant in the comoving frame, we infer a 90% credible range of merger rates between – -- 2 53 Gpc yr 31 ( comoving frame ) . Incorporating all search triggers that pass a much lower threshold while accounting for the uncerta inty in the astrophysical origin of each trigger, we estimate a higher rate, ranging from – -- 13 600 Gpc yr 31 depending on assumptions about the BBH mass distribution. All together, our various rate estimat es fall in the conservative range – -- 2 600 Gpc yr 31

Novel coloured flowers

The floricultural industry has focused its attention primarily on the development of novel coloured and longer living cut flowers. The basis for this was laid down some years ago through the isolation of 'blue' genes and ethylene biosynthesis genes. Recently, a novel 'blue' gene has been discovered and yellow pigments were produced in petunias by addition of a new branch to the phenylpropanoid pathway. More insight was obtained into the sequestration of anthocyanin pigments into storage vacuoles. Significant progress has been achieved in the commercialisation of genetically modified flower varieties

Preclinical Benefit of Hypoxia-Activated Intra-arterial Therapy with Evofosfamide in Liver Cancer.

To evaluate safety and characterize anticancer efficacy of hepatic hypoxia-activated intra-arterial therapy (HAIAT) with evofosfamide in a rabbit model. VX2-tumor-bearing rabbits were assigned to 4 intra-arterial therapy (IAT) groups (n = 7/group): (i) saline (control); (ii) evofosfamide (Evo); (iii) doxorubicin-lipiodol emulsion followed by embolization with 100-300 μm beads (conventional, cTACE); or (iv) cTACE and evofosfamide (cTACE + Evo). Blood samples were collected pre-IAT and 1, 2, 7, and 14 days post-IAT. A semiquantitative scoring system assessed hepatocellular damage. Tumor volumes were segmented on multidetector CT (baseline, 7/14 days post-IAT). Pathologic tumor necrosis was quantified using manual segmentation on whole-slide images. Hypoxic fraction (HF) and compartment (HC) were determined by pimonidazole staining. Tumor DNA damage, apoptosis, cell proliferation, endogenous hypoxia, and metabolism were quantified (γ-H2AX, Annexin V, caspase-3, Ki-67, HIF1α, VEGF, GAPDH, MCT4, and LDH). cTACE + Evo showed a similar profile of liver enzymes elevation and pathologic scores compared with cTACE. Neither hematologic nor renal toxicity were observed. Animals treated with cTACE + Evo demonstrated smaller tumor volumes, lower tumor growth rates, and higher necrotic fractions compared with cTACE. cTACE + Evo resulted in a marked reduction in the HF and HC. Correlation was observed between decreases in HF or HC and tumor necrosis. cTACE + Evo promoted antitumor effects as evidenced by increased expression of γ-H2AX, apoptotic biomarkers, and decreased cell proliferation. Increased HIF1α/VEGF expression and tumor glycolysis supported HAIAT. HAIAT achieved a promising step towards the locoregional targeting of tumor hypoxia. The favorable toxicity profile and enhanced anticancer effects of evofosfamide in combination with cTACE pave the way towards clinical trials in patients with liver cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 23(2); 536-48. ©2016 AACR

Pregnancy and IBD treatment: This challenging interplay from a patients' perspective

IntroductionCurrent data suggest that exacerbations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) during pregnancy worsen perinatal outcomes. However, patients' perceptions regarding the interaction between pregnancy and IBD management are unexplored.AimsTo (1) obtain pregnancy outcome data from local female IBD patients, and (2) to gain insight into patients' understanding of the interaction between IBD and pregnancy, and how this affects medication-taking behaviour.MethodsFemale IBD subjects aged 18-50 years were surveyed by questionnaire. This large retrospective study sought patient who reported pregnancy outcomes and examined the relationship between major adverse outcomes, IBD activity and treatment. Subjective data regarding patients' perceptions about IBD management and pregnancy were sought.Results219 females were surveyed, 143 completing a questionnaire (68.1%). 342 pregnancies occurred, 298 of which outcome data were available. Overall IBD women reported adverse pregnancy outcome rates comparable to the local population. Major adverse outcomes were more frequent in the subgroup with severe disease during pregnancy (5/14 (35.7%)) than those with inactive disease (14/284 (4.9%)), (OR 6.8 (95% CI 1.7-26.3), p=0.006). Adjusting for disease severity, neither corticosteroid, azathioprine nor 5ASA affected pregnancy outcome. Most female patients (84%) reported (unwarranted) concerns about the effect of IBD medications on pregnancy, free text responses indicating that this was of greater concern than any effect of IBD exacerbation.ConclusionsUnwarranted fear of adverse medication effect on pregnancy is highly prevalent in women with IBD, yet awareness of the harmful effect of IBD exacerbation during pregnancy is poor. This information gap between patients and their gastroenterologists warrants attention.R.E. Mountifield, R. Prosser, P. Bampton, K. Muller and J.M. Andrew