382 research outputs found
Microscopic Black Hole Pairs in Highly-Excited States
We consider the quantum mechanics of a system consisting of two identical,
Planck-size Schwarzschild black holes revolving around their common center of
mass. We find that even in a very highly-excited state such a system has very
sharp, discrete energy eigenstates, and the system performs very rapid
transitions from a one stationary state to another. For instance, when the
system is in the 100th excited state, the life times of the energy eigenstates
are of the order of s, and the energies of gravitons released in
transitions between nearby states are of the order of eV.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figures, uses RevTe
Replacing C6F5 groups with Cl and H atoms in frustrated Lewis pairs : H-2 additions and catalytic hydrogenations
2-(Dialkylamino) phenylboranes containing the BXZ group, where X, Z = C6F5, Cl, and H, were prepared in a few synthetic steps and demonstrated the cleavage of H-2 under mild conditions. Depending on the nature of the dialkylamino group, X, and Z, the stability of the produced zwitterionic H-2 adducts varies from isolated solids indefinitely stable in an inert atmosphere to those quickly equilibrating with the initial aminoborane and H-2. Using a combined experimental/computational approach on a series of isostructural aminoboranes (dialkylamino = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperid-1-yl), it was demonstrated that the electro-negativity and the steric effect of the substituents generally follow the trend C6F5 similar to Cl >> H. This observation is useful for designing new FLPs for practical applications. As an example, we demonstrated the hydrogenation of alkynes to cis-alkenes under mild conditions that was catalyzed by a chloro-analogue of the C6F5-substituted aminoborane developed previously. The presence of a BHCl group in the amino-chloroboranes or in their H-2 adducts features facile redistribution of the H and Cl atoms and the formation of polychloro and polyhydrido species.Peer reviewe
Treatment of compound tibia fracture with microvascular latissimus dorsi flap and the Ilizarov technique : A cross-sectional study of long-term outcomes
Background: Extensive compound tibial fractures present reconstructive challenges. The present study aimed to assess the outcomes of microvascular latissimus dorsi (LD) flap combined with the Ilizarov technique for extensive compound tibial fractures with bone loss and bone healing complications. Methods: Patient records were reviewed retrospectively. The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), the Disabilities of the Arm, Hand and Shoulder (DASH), and the 15D health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument were applied. Results: Between 1989 and 2014, 16 patients underwent reconstruction with a microvascular LD flap and bone transport (11/16) or late bone lengthening (5/16). The mean clinical follow-up time was 6.6 (standard deviation (SD): 6.5) years. Three patients had minor complications requiring reoperation. Partial necrosis of one flap required late flap reconstruction in one case. Late bone grafting was used to enhance union in eight of 16 cases. The mean new bone gain was 3.8 cm (SD: 2.5). Overall, 11 patients completed the questionnaires in a mean of 22.3 years (SD: 2.4) after surgery. The main findings revealed a relatively good function of the reconstructed limb and good shoulder function. The mean HRQoL was comparable to that of an age-standardized sample of the general population. Conclusion: Segmental tibia transport and lengthening to correct limb length discrepancy do not compromise the microvascular muscle flap. Combined microvascular LD flap reconstruction and the Ilizarov technique can be used in treating acute compound tibial defects, pseudoarthrosis, and osteitis, all associated with significant amputation risk. Fair long-term functional outcomes and HRQoL are achieved when these combined techniques are used. (C) 2016 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe
Lymphatic endothelium stimulates melanoma metastasis and invasion via MMP14-dependent Notch3 and b1-integrin activation
Lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis correlate with poor clinical outcome in melanoma. However, the mechanisms of lymphatic dissemination in distant metastasis remain incompletely understood. We show here that exposure of expansively growing human WM852 melanoma cells, but not singly invasive Bowes cells, to lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) in 3D co-culture facilitates melanoma distant organ metastasis in mice. To dissect the underlying molecular mechanisms, we established LEC co-cultures with different melanoma cells originating from primary tumors or metastases. Notably, the expansively growing metastatic melanoma cells adopted an invasively sprouting phenotype in 3D matrix that was dependent on MMP14, Notch3 and ÎČ1-integrin. Unexpectedly, MMP14 was necessary for LEC-induced Notch3 induction and coincident ÎČ1-integrin activation. Moreover, MMP14 and Notch3 were required for LEC-mediated metastasis of zebrafish xenografts. This study uncovers a unique mechanism whereby LEC contact promotes melanoma metastasis by inducing a reversible switch from 3D growth to invasively sprouting cell phenotype
Radiocarbon dating of methane and carbon dioxide evaded from a temperate peatland stream
Streams draining peatlands export large quantities of carbon in different chemical forms and
are an important part of the carbon cycle. Radiocarbon (14C) analysis/dating provides unique
information on the source and rate that carbon is cycled through ecosystems, as has recently
been demonstrated at the air-water interface through analysis of carbon dioxide (CO2) lost
from peatland streams by evasion (degassing). Peatland streams also have the potential to
release large amounts of methane (CH4) and, though 14C analysis of CH4 emitted by ebullition
(bubbling) has been previously reported, diffusive emissions have not. We describe methods
that enable the 14C analysis of CH4 evaded from peatland streams. Using these methods, we
investigated the 14C age and stable carbon isotope composition of both CH4 and CO2 evaded
from a small peatland stream draining a temperate raised mire. Methane was aged between
1617-1987 years BP, and was much older than CO2 which had an age range of 303-521 years
BP. Isotope mass balance modelling of the results indicated that the CO2 and CH4 evaded
from the stream were derived from different source areas, with most evaded CO2 originating
from younger layers located nearer the peat surface compared to CH4. The study demonstrates
the insight that can be gained into peatland carbon cycling from a methodological
development which enables dual isotope (14C and 13C) analysis of both CH4 and CO2 collected
at the same time and in the same way
A Quantum Mechanical Model of the Reissner-Nordstrom Black Hole
We consider a Hamiltonian quantum theory of spherically symmetric,
asymptotically flat electrovacuum spacetimes. The physical phase space of such
spacetimes is spanned by the mass and the charge parameters and of the
Reissner-Nordstr\"{o}m black hole, together with the corresponding canonical
momenta. In this four-dimensional phase space, we perform a canonical
transformation such that the resulting configuration variables describe the
dynamical properties of Reissner-Nordstr\"{o}m black holes in a natural manner.
The classical Hamiltonian written in terms of these variables and their
conjugate momenta is replaced by the corresponding self-adjoint Hamiltonian
operator, and an eigenvalue equation for the ADM mass of the hole, from the
point of view of a distant observer at rest, is obtained. Our eigenvalue
equation implies that the ADM mass and the electric charge spectra of the hole
are discrete, and the mass spectrum is bounded below. Moreover, the spectrum of
the quantity is strictly positive when an appropriate self-adjoint
extension is chosen. The WKB analysis yields the result that the large
eigenvalues of the quantity are of the form , where
is an integer. It turns out that this result is closely related to
Bekenstein's proposal on the discrete horizon area spectrum of black holes.Comment: 37 pages, Plain TeX, no figure
Quantum-mechanical model of the Kerr-Newman black hole
We consider a Hamiltonian quantum theory of stationary spacetimes containing
a Kerr-Newman black hole. The physical phase space of such spacetimes is just
six-dimensional, and it is spanned by the mass , the electric charge and
angular momentum of the hole, together with the corresponding canonical
momenta. In this six-dimensional phase space we perform a canonical
transformation such that the resulting configuration variables describe the
dynamical properties of Kerr-Newman black holes in a natural manner. The
classical Hamiltonian written in terms of these variables and their conjugate
momenta is replaced by the corresponding self-adjoint Hamiltonian operator and
an eigenvalue equation for the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner (ADM) mass of the hole,
from the point of view of a distant observer at rest, is obtained. In a certain
very restricted sense, this eigenvalue equation may be viewed as a sort of
"Schr\"odinger equation of black holes". Our "Schr\"odinger equation" implies
that the ADM mass, electric charge and angular momentum spectra of black holes
are discrete, and the mass spectrum is bounded from below. Moreover, the
spectrum of the quantity , where is the angular momentum per
unit mass of the hole, is strictly positive when an appropriate self-adjoint
extension is chosen. The WKB analysis yields the result that the large
eigenvalues of , and are of the form , where is an
integer. It turns out that this result is closely related to Bekenstein's
proposal on the discrete horizon area spectrum of black holes.Comment: 30 pages, 3 figures, RevTe
New criteria for inflammatory back pain in patients with chronic back pain: a real patient exercise by experts from the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS)
Objective: Inflammatory back pain (IBP) is an important clinical symptom in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA), and relevant for classification and diagnosis. In the present report, a new approach for the development of IBP classification criteria is discussed.
Methods: Rheumatologists (n = 13) who are experts in SpA took part in a 2-day international workshop to investigate 20 patients with back pain and possible SpA. Each expert documented the presence/absence of clinical parameters typical for IBP, and judged whether IBP was considered present or absent based on the received information. This expert judgement was used as the dependent variable in a logistic regression analysis in order to identify those individual IBP parameters that contributed best to a diagnosis of IBP. The new set of IBP criteria was validated in a separate cohort of patients (n = 648).
Results: Five parameters best explained IBP according to the experts. These were: (1) improvement with exercise (odds ratio (OR) 23.1); (2) pain at night (OR 20.4); (3) insidious onset (OR 12.7); (4) age at onset,40 years (OR 9.9); and (5) no improvement with rest (OR 7.7). If at least four out of these five parameters were fulfilled, the criteria had a sensitivity of 77.0% and specificity of 91.7% in the patients participating in the workshop, and 79.6% and 72.4%, respectively, in the validation cohort.
Conclusion: This new approach with real patients defines a set of IBP definition criteria using overall expert judgement on IBP as the gold standard. The IBP experts' criteria are robust, easy to apply and have good face validity
The snow must go on: Ground ice encasement, snow compaction and absence of snow differently cause soil hypoxia, CO2 accumulation and tree seedling damage in boreal forest
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