Effective action and brane running

We address the renormalized effective action for a Randall-Sundrum brane running in 5d bulk space. The running behavior of the brane action is obtained by shifting the brane-position without changing the background and the fluctuations. After an appropriate renormalization, we obtain an effective, low energy braneworld action, in which the effective 4d Planck mass is independent of the running-position. We address some implications of this effective action.Comment: 15 pages, no figur

Benign giant mediastinal schwannoma presenting as cardiac tamponade in a woman: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Mediastinal schwannomas are typically benign and asymptomatic, and generally present no immediate risks. We encountered a rare case of a giant benign posterior mediastinal schwannoma, complicated by life-threatening cardiac tamponade.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 72-year-old Japanese woman, who presented with cardiogenic shock. Computed tomography of the chest revealed a posterior mediastinal mass 150 cm in diameter, with pericardial effusion. The cardiac tamponade was treated with prompt pericardial fluid drainage. A biopsy was taken from the mass, and after histological examination, it was diagnosed as a benign schwannoma, a well-encapsulated non-infiltrating tumor, originating from the intrathoracic vagus nerve. It was successfully excised, restoring normal cardiac function.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our case suggests that giant mediastinal schwannomas, although generally benign and asymptomatic, should be excised upon discovery to prevent the development of life-threatening cardiopulmonary complications.</p

SiC Nanorods Grown on Electrospun Nanofibers Using Tb as Catalyst: Fabrication, Characterization, and Photoluminescence Properties

Well-crystallizedβ-SiC nanorods grown on electrospun nanofibers were synthesized by carbothermal reduction of Tb doped SiO2(SiO2:Tb) nanofibers at 1,250 °C. The as-synthesized SiC nanorods were 100–300 nm in diameter and 2–3 μm in length. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results suggested that the growth of the SiC nanorods should be governed by vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism with Tb metal as catalyst. Tb(NO3)3particles on the surface of the electrospun nanofibers were decomposed at 500 °C and later reduced to the formation of Tb nanoclusters at 1,200 °C, and finally the formation of a Si–C–Tb ally droplet will stimulate the VLS growth at 1,250 °C. Microstructure of the nanorod was further investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that SiC <111> is the preferred initial growth direction. The liquid droplet was identified to be Si86Tb14, which acted as effective catalyst. Strong green emissions were observed from the SiC nanorod samples. Four characteristic photoluminescence (PL) peaks of Tb ions were also identified

Turning a "useless" ligand into a "useful" ligand:a magneto-structural study of an unusual family of Cu(II) wheels derived from functionalised phenolic oximes

While the phenolic oximes (R-saoH(2)) are well known for producing monometallic complexes of the type [MII(R-saoH)(2)] with Cu-II ions in near quantitative yield, their derivatisation opens the door to much more varied and interesting coordination chemistry. Here we show that combining the complimentary diethanolamine and phenolic oxime moieties into one organic framework (H4L1 and H4L2) allows for the preparation and isolation of an unusual family of [Cu-II](n) wheels, including saddle-shaped, single-stranded [Cu-8(II)] wheels of general formula [Cu-8(HL1)(4)(X)(4)] n[Y] (when n = 0, X = Cl-, NO3-, AcO-, N-3(-); when n = 2+X = (OAc)(2)/(2,2'-bpy)(2) and Y = [BF4](2)) and [Cu-8(HL2)(4)(X)(4)](X = Cl-, Br-), a rectangular [Cu-6(HL1)(4)] wheel, and a heterometallic [Cu4Na2(HL1)2(H2L1)(2)] hexagon. Magnetic studies show very strong antiferromagnetic exchange between neighbouring metal ions, leading to diamagnetic ground states in all cases. DFT studies reveal that the magnitude of the exchange constants are correlated to the Cu-N-O-Cu dihedral angles, which in turn are correlated to the planarity/puckering of the [Cu-II](n) rings

Rethinking community resilience: Critical reflections on the last 10 years of the Ōtautahi Christchurch recovery and on-going disasters

The legacies of mechanistic and scientific approaches towards community resilience are increasingly challenged for lacking insight and nuance. They fail to understand the complexities of social organisation, community dynamics and patterns of power and politics. While generally conceptualised as the ability of a system/community to respond to, cope with and recover from a particular hazard, communities in Ōtautahi Christchurch have needed to be resilient for an extended period of time to respond to multiple (natural and human-induced) hazards. We explore how community resilience has been operationalised, resisted and re-worked in the recovery from the Canterbury earthquake sequence. We explore these themes in the context of an unfolding and compounding landscape of crises. To explore these themes, we seek to both reconceptualise and provide a critical discussion of the overly popular concept of community resilience

Identifying the barriers to building back better : a case study of Christchurch (Ōtautahi), New Zealand

BROAD FOCUS: how to build sustainability into the city of Christchurch following the 2010-11 earthquakes NARROW FOCUS: the place of renewable energy in this process RESEARCH METHODS: • Key-informant interviews • Informal meetings • Participant observation • Document analysis • Official Information Act requests We can’t agree on what constitutes “better” Unintended consequences: doing good might be doing bad Many want to build back the same (ChristChurch Cathedral) Rebuild mandates (e.g. PPPs) and insurance payments reinforced this (“like for like” replacements) Capital flight/lack of capital That other city problem: Auckland Governance structures: “confusopoly” & the “tragedy of the anti-commons”, alphabet agencies CBD already in decline (BBB = Baptist churches, brothels & band practice rooms) New environmental challenges: sinking city, rising sea, drinking water contaminatio