2,246 research outputs found
Peaks in the Hartle-Hawking Wave Function from Sums over Topologies
Recent developments in ``Einstein Dehn filling'' allow the construction of
infinitely many Einstein manifolds that have different topologies but are
geometrically close to each other. Using these results, we show that for many
spatial topologies, the Hartle-Hawking wave function for a spacetime with a
negative cosmological constant develops sharp peaks at certain calculable
geometries. The peaks we find are all centered on spatial metrics of constant
negative curvature, suggesting a new mechanism for obtaining local homogeneity
in quantum cosmology.Comment: 16 pages,LaTeX, no figures; v2: some changes coming from revision of
a math reference: wave function peaks sharp but not infinite; v3: added
paragraph in intro on interpretation of wave functio
An Improved In Vivo Methodology to Visualise Tumour Induced Changes in Vasculature Using the Chick Chorionic Allantoic Membrane Assay
Background/Aim: Decreasing the vascularity of a tumour has proven to be an effective strategy to suppress tumour growth and metastasis. Anti-angiogenic therapies have revolutionized the treatment of advanced-stage cancers, however there is still demand for further improvement. This necessitates new experimental models that will allow researchers to reliably study aspects of angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to demonstrate an in vivo technique in which the highly vascular and accessible chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the chick embryo is used to study tumour-induced changes in the macro and microvessels. Materials and Methods: Two cancer cell lines (human melanoma (C8161) and human prostate cancer (PC3)) were selected as model cells. Human dermal fibroblasts were used as a control. One million cells were labelled with green fluorescent protein and implanted on the CAM of the chick embryo at embryonic development day (EDD) 7 and angiogenesis was evaluated at EDDs 10, 12 and 14. A fluorescently-tagged lectin (lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA)) was injected intravenously into the chick embryo to label endothelial cells. The LCA is known to label the luminal surface of endothelial cells, or dextrans, in the CAM vasculature. Macrovessels were imaged by a hand-held digital microscope and images were processed for quantification. Microvessels were evaluated by confocal microscopy. Tumour invasion was assessed by histological and optical sectioning. Results: Tumour cells (C8161 and PC3) produced quantifiable increases in the total area covered by blood vessels, compared to fibroblasts when assessed by digital microscopy. Tumour invasion could be demonstrated by both histological and optical sectioning. The most significant changes in tumour vasculature observed were in the microvascular structures adjacent to the tumour cells, which showed an increase in the endothelial cell coverage. Additionally, tumour intravasation and tumour thrombus formation could be detected in the areas adjacent to tumour cells. The fragility of tumour blood vessels could be demonstrated when tumour cells seeded on a synthetic scaffold were grown on CAM. Conclusion: We report on a modification to a well-studied CAM in vivo assay, which can be effectively used to study tumour induced changes in macro and microvasculature
The S-wave \Lambda\pi phase shift is not large
We study the strong interaction S-wave \Lambda\pi phase shift in the region
of the \Xi mass in the framework of a relativistic chiral unitary approach
based on coupled channels. All parameters have been previously determined in a
fit to strangeness S= -1 S-wave kaon-nucleon data. We find 0^\circ \le \delta_0
\le 1.1^\circ in agreement with previous chiral perturbation theory
calculations (or extensions thereof). We also discuss why a recent coupled
channel K-matrix calculation gives a result for \delta_0 that is negative and
much bigger in magnitude. We argue why that value should not be trusted.Comment: 3 pages, REVTe
âEthnic groupâ, the state and the politics of representation
The assertion, even if only by implication, that âethnic groupâ categories represent ârealâ tangible entities, indeed identities, is commonplace not only in the realms of political and policy discourse but also amongst contemporary social scientists. This paper, following Brubaker (2002), questions this position in a number of key respects: of these three issues will dominate the discussion that follows.
First, there is an interrogation of the proposition that those to whom the categories/labels refer constitute sociologically meaningful âgroupsâ as distinct from (mere) human collectivities. Secondly, there is the question of how these categories emerge, i.e. exactly what series of events, negotiations and contestations lie behind their construction and social acceptance. Thirdly, and as a corollary to the latter point, we explore the process of reification that leads to these categories being seen to represent âreal things in the worldâ (ibid.)
Mutation analysis of HIF prolyl hydroxylases (PHD/EGLN) in individuals with features of phaeochromocytoma and renal cell carcinoma susceptibility
Germline mutations in the von HippelâLindau disease (VHL) and succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) genes can cause inherited phaeochromocytoma and/or renal cell carcinoma(RCC). Dysregulation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factors has been linked to VHL and SDHB-related RCC; both HIF dysregulation and disordered function of a prolyl hydroxylase domain isoform 3 (PHD3/EGLN3)-related pathway of neuronal apoptosis have been linked to the development of phaeochromocytoma. The 2-oxoglutarate-dependent prolyl hydroxylase enzymes PHD1 (EGLN2), PHD2 (EGLN1) and PHD3 (EGLN3) have a key role in regulating the stability of HIF-a subunits (and hence expression of the HIF-a transcription factors). A germline PHD2 mutation has been reported in association with congenital erythrocytosis and recurrent extra-adrenal phaeochromocytoma. We undertook mutation analysis of PHD1, PHD2 and PHD3 in two cohorts of patients with features of inherited phaeochromocytoma (nZ82) and inherited RCC (nZ64) and no evidence of germline mutations in known susceptibility genes. No confirmed pathogenic mutations were detected suggesting that mutations in these genes are not a frequent cause of inherited phaeochromocytoma or RCC
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A prospective, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled trial to assess the respiratory effects of buprenorphine versus morphine in anaesthetised patients
Despite its long history and widespread use, some questions remain over buprenorphineâs respiratory safety profile. This study investigated respiratory depression and potential reversibility by naloxone at two buprenorphine doses, of which the intramuscularly administered dose was designed to achieve the plasma concentration range seen with transdermal delivery. The buprenorphine doses were compared to morphine administered intravenously.
The IM route was proposed to avoid the characteristic high peak seen after IV bolus injection, to achieve a slow-rising plasma concentration which plateaus at five minutes, The selected intramuscular buprenorphine dose (0.85 mcg/kg) was chosen to achieve a similar plasma concentration at a steady state to that seen with transdermal buprenorphine at 35mcg/h(the Transtec 35mcg/h patch)
An Alternative Method to Obtain the Quark Polarization of the Nucleon
An alternate method is described to extract the quark contribution to the
spin of the nucleon directly from the first moment of the deuteron structure
function, . It is obtained without recourse to the use of input on the
nucleon wave function from hyperon decays involving the flavor symmetry
parameters, F and D. The result for the quark polarization of the nucleon,
is in good agreement with the values of the singlet axial
current matrix element, , obtained from recent next-to-leading order
analyses of current proton, neutron and deuteron data.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur
The perception and management of risk in UK office property development
Risk is an ever-present aspect of business, and risk taking is necessary for profit and economic progress. Speculative property development is popularly perceived as a 'risky business' yet, like other entrepreneurs, developers have opportunities to manage the risks they face; techniques include phasing and joint ventures. The associated areas of investment portfolio risk, development risk analysis and construction risk management have all been addressed by research. This article presents new knowledge about how developers perceive risks and the means they subsequently adopt to manage them. The developers of office projects across the UK were sent questionnaires by post. Respondents were asked about their perceptions of risks at the first appraisal stage and currently and about the risk management techniques that they had adopted. In-depth interviews with a selection of respondents were then used to discuss and augment the findings. Developers were most concerned about market-based risks at both stages. Concern about production-orientated risks was lower and fell significantly between the two stages. A fixed price contract was the most common risk management technique. Risk management techniques were used more often outside London and the South East. Developer type affects both the perception and management of risk. While developers do manage risk, decisions are made on the basis of professional and business experience. These findings should help development companies manage risk in a more objective and analytical way
The redshift-space two-point correlation functions of galaxies and groups in the Nearby Optical Galaxy sample
We use the two-point correlation function in redshift space, , to
study the clustering of the galaxies and groups of the Nearby Optical Galaxy
(NOG) sample, which is a nearly all-sky, complete, magnitude-limited sample of
7000 bright and nearby optical galaxies. The correlation function of
galaxies is well described by a power law, , with
slope and Mpc (on scales Mpc), in agreement with previous results of several redshift surveys of
optical galaxies. We confirm the existence of morphological segregation between
early- and late-type galaxies and, in particular, we find a gradual decreasing
of the strength of clustering from the S0 galaxies to the late-type spirals, on
intermediate scales. Furthermore, luminous galaxies turn out to be more
clustered than dim galaxies. The luminosity segregation, which is significant
for both early- and late-type objects, starts to become appreciable only for
galaxies brighter than () and is
independent on scale. The NOG group correlation functions are characterized by
-values ranging from Mpc (for groups with at least three
members) to Mpc (for groups with at least five members). The
degree of group clustering depends on the physical properties of groups.
Specifically, groups with greater velocity dispersions, sizes and masses tend
to be more clustered than those with lower values of these quantities.Comment: Astrophysical Journal, in press, 72 pages, 16 eps figure
Can the polarization of the strange quarks in the proton be positive ?
Recently, the HERMES Collaboration at DESY, using a leading order QCD
analysis of their data on semi-inclusive deep inelastic production of charged
hadrons, reported a marginally positive polarization for the strange quarks in
the proton. We argue that a non-negative polarization is almost impossible.Comment: 6 pages, latex, minor changes in the discussion after Eq. (9
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