The Hydrogen Atom as a Relativistic Motor: Wave Packet Construction and Spin Effects

(1) Background: It was suggested that one can construct a practical relativistic motor provided high enough charge and current densities are available. Since on the macroscopic scale charge density is limited by the phenomena of dielectric breakdown, it was suggested to take advantage of the high charge densities which are available on the microscopic scale. A study into the microscopic scale demonstrated that only certain types of quantum systems will support a relativistic motor. (2) Methods: We use standard physical theories such as Maxwell electrodynamics and Quantum mechanics, supplemented by tools from vector analysis and numerics in order to study the options of free and confined electrons (3) Results: We show that a hydrogen atom either in the ground state or excited state will not produce a relativistic engine effect, but by breaking the symmetry or putting the electron in a wave packet state may produce relativistic motor effect. (4) Conclusions: A highly localized wave packet will produce a strong relativistic motor effect. The preliminary analysis of the current paper suggests new promising directions of research both theoretical and experimental.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figure

Inter-Tumor Heterogeneity-Melanomas Respond Differently to GM-CSF-Mediated Activation.

Granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is used as an adjuvant in various clinical and preclinical studies with contradictory results. These were attributed to opposing effects of GM-CSF on the immune or myeloid systems of the treated patients or to lack of optimal dosing regimens. The results of the present study point to inter-tumor heterogeneity as a possible mechanism accounting for the contrasting responses to GM-CSF incorporating therapies. Employing xenograft models of human melanomas in nude mice developed in our lab, we detected differential functional responses of melanomas from different patients to GM-CSF both in vitro as well as in vivo. Whereas cells of one melanoma acquired pro metastatic features following exposure to GM-CSF, cells from another melanoma either did not respond or became less malignant. We propose that inter-melanoma heterogeneity as manifested by differential responses of melanoma cells (and perhaps also of other tumor) to GM-CSF may be developed into a predictive marker providing a tool to segregate melanoma patients who will benefit from GM-CSF therapy from those who will not

Effect of salinity and nitrogen fertilization levels on growth parameters of Sarcocornia fruticosa, Salicornia brachiata, and Arthrocnemum macrostachyum

Salinity negatively influences crop growth, but several salt-tolerant plant species (halophytes) are viable crops. Sarcocornia fruticosa (ecotypes EL and VM) is currently cultivated, but there is demand for new crop candidates and higher biomass production. Salicornia brachiata Roxb. and Arthrocneum macrostachyum L. are considered novel crops, and to realize their potential, their response to salinity and nitrogen nutrition was compared to S. fruticosa ecotypes. Experiments revealed that higher N supplemented with lower NaCl significantly increased fresh and dry shoot biomass. Lower biomass was obtained at lower nitrogen supplemented with elevated NaCl, whereas total soluble solids content positively correlated with NaCl fertigation in both Sarcocornia ecotypes. Protein content increased with a lower nitrogen supply. Anthocyanins and oxygen radical absorbance capacity were highest in S. fruticosa EL and A. macrostachyum at higher NaCl supply. The results show that halophytes have a variety of strategies to cope with high NaCl, even between ecotypes of the same species. Notably, repetitive harvesting of S. brachiata delayed flowering enabling year-round biomass production. Additionally, S. brachiata accumulated higher biomass than Sarcocornia VM when grown in a greenhouse at higher radiation than in a growth room and strongly supports its inclusion as a cash-crop halophyte.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Leadership, and Financial Performance

In this study we statistically assess the relationship between corporate characteristics, environmental contribution, and financial performance. To this end, we compare the financial performance of all US corporations that have composed the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexs (DJSI), being the most proactive companies in providing services and goods while maintaining ethical responsibility and environmental sustainability. Performance is compared to mean performance of the related industry, sector, and the market portfolio. Our analysis suggest that firms who are proactive supporting Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability (SRER corporations) are characterized by significantly higher profit measures than the industry and the sector, though not higher than the entire market; have lower short term liquidity than that of the industry and the related sector, and surprisingly their long term leverage is significantly higher. High SRER corporations are characterized by significantly higher managerial efficiency ratios than the respective industry and the sector. Interestingly, the per-worker ratios are significantly lower than all the benchmarks. These results illustrate the strong relation between social and environmental sustainability and the long term business plan. Results extend existing literature that has restricted attention to Corporate Social Responsibility and financial performance, but have left aside sustainability