2,564 research outputs found
The National Institutes of Health Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS): a view from the UK.
This is the final version. Available from Dove Medical Press via the DOI in this record.The interest in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) continues to increase as recognition of their potential utility rises in an effort to make health systems more patient-centered. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS®) has used state of the art psychometric and statistical techniques to create a universal PROMs language, with potential application across the whole spectrum of health conditions, languages, and geographic locations. PROMIS offers a versatile platform where specific health domains are assessed using both standardized short forms and computerized adaptive tests, which are automatically tailored to individual patients. The scores of each health domain or a standardized profile of multiple domains are all scored on a common metric scale. PROMIS is increasingly recognized as the international gold standard for patient-centered assessment, although the use of these tools in the UK is limited. In this review, the developmental methodology of the PROMIS is described with discussion of its relevant strengths and limitations for use in the UK. We provide a case study of the largest application of the PROMIS tools in the UK as an example of straightforward integration into health-care research. Barriers to the uptake of PROMIS in the UK include the technology requirement, measurement tradition, and lack of a clear understanding of its benefits, and although potential stakeholders should cautiously consider its use, its impressive potential and increasing international utilization should be recognized
Differential Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Migratory Activities of Ursolic Acid, 3-O-Acetylursolic Acid and Their Combination Treatments with Quercetin on Melanoma Cells
We evaluate how 3-acetylation modulates the in vitro activity of ursolic acid in melanoma cells alone or in combination treatments with quercetin. Anti-proliferative studies on A375 cells and adult human dermal fibroblasts included analyses on cell cycle distribution, caspase activity, phosphatidylserine translocation, cell morphology and Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression. Then, 2D and 3D migration of B16F10 cells were studied using scratch and Transwell assays, respectively. Ursolic acid and 3-O-acetylursolic acid have shown similar GI50 on A375 cells (26 µM vs. 32 µM, respectively) significantly increased both early and late apoptotic populations, activated caspases 3/7 (48–72 h), and enhanced Bax whilst attenuating Bcl-2 expression. Ursolic acid caused elevation of the sub-G1 population whilst its 3-acetyl derivative arrested cell cycle at S phase and induced strong morphological changes. Combination treatments showed that ursolic acid and quercetin act synergistically in migration assays but not against cell proliferation. In summary, 3-O-acetylursolic acid maintains the potency and overall apoptotic mechanism of the parent molecule with a more aggressive influence on the morphology of A375 melanoma cells but the 3-acetylation suppresses its anti-migratory properties. We also found that ursolic acid can act in synergy with quercetin to reduce cell migration.</jats:p
Absorption on horizon-wrapped branes
We compute the absorption cross section of space-time scalars on a static D2
rane, in global coordinates, wrapped on the S^2 of an AdS_2 X S^2 X CY_3
geometry. We discuss its relevance for the construction of the dual quantum
mechanics of Calabi-Yau black holes.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figure
Predicting EQ-5D index scores from Promis Profile 29 in the United Kingdom, France, And Germany
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this recor
Black Hole Emission in String Theory and the String Phase of Black Holes
String theory properly describes black-hole evaporation. The quantum string
emission by Black Holes is computed. The black-hole temperature is the Hawking
temperature in the semiclassical quantum field theory (QFT) regime and becomes
the intrinsic string temperature, T_s, in the quantum (last stage) string
regime. The QFT-Hawking temperature T_H is upper bounded by the string
temperature T_S. The black hole emission spectrum is an incomplete gamma
function of (T_H - T_S). For T_H << T_S, it yields the QFT-Hawking emission.
For T_H \to T_S, it shows highly massive string states dominate the emission
and undergo a typical string phase transition to a microscopic `minimal' black
hole of mass M_{\min} or radius r_{\min} (inversely proportional to T_S) and
string temperature T_S. The string back reaction effect (selfconsistent black
hole solution of the semiclassical Einstein equations) is computed. Both, the
QFT and string black hole regimes are well defined and bounded.The string
`minimal' black hole has a life time tau_{min} simeq (k_B c)/(G hbar [T_S]^3).
The semiclassical QFT black hole (of mass M and temperature T_H) and the string
black hole (of mass M_{min} and temperature T_S) are mapped one into another by
a `Dual' transform which links classical/QFT and quantum string regimes.Comment: LaTex, 22 pages, Lectures delivered at the Chalonge School, Nato ASI:
Phase Transitions in the Early Universe: Theory and Observations. To appear
in the Proceedings, Editors H. J. de Vega, I. Khalatnikov, N. Sanchez.
(Kluwer Pub
Particle dynamics near extreme Kerr throat and supersymmetry
The extreme Kerr throat solution is believed to be non-supersymmetric.
However, its isometry group SO(2,1) x U(1) matches precisely the bosonic
subgroup of N=2 superconformal group in one dimension. In this paper we
construct N=2 supersymmetric extension of a massive particle moving near the
horizon of the extreme Kerr black hole. Bosonic conserved charges are related
to Killing vectors in a conventional way. Geometric interpretation of
supersymmetry charges remains a challenge.Comment: V2: 10 pages; discussion in sect. 4 and 5 extended, acknowledgements
and references adde
Conformal Symmetry of a Black Hole as a Scaling Limit: A Black Hole in an Asymptotically Conical Box
We show that the previously obtained subtracted geometry of four-dimensional
asymptotically flat multi-charged rotating black holes, whose massless wave
equation exhibit symmetry may be
obtained by a suitable scaling limit of certain asymptotically flat
multi-charged rotating black holes, which is reminiscent of near-extreme black
holes in the dilute gas approximation. The co-homogeneity-two geometry is
supported by a dilation field and two (electric) gauge-field strengths. We also
point out that these subtracted geometries can be obtained as a particular
Harrison transformation of the original black holes. Furthermore the subtracted
metrics are asymptotically conical (AC), like global monopoles, thus describing
"a black hole in an AC box". Finally we account for the the emergence of the
symmetry as a consequence of the
subtracted metrics being Kaluza-Klein type quotients of .
We demonstrate that similar properties hold for five-dimensional black holes.Comment: Sections 3 and 4 significantly augmente
Black Hole Deconstruction
A D4-D0 black hole can be deconstructed into a bound state of D0 branes with
a D6-anti-D6 pair containing worldvolume fluxes. The exact spacetime solution
is known and resembles a D0 accretion disk surrounding a D6-anti-D6 core. We
find a scaling limit in which the disk and core drop inside an AdS_2 throat.
Crossing this AdS_2 throat and the D0 accretion disk into the core, we find a
second scaling region describing the D6-anti-D6 pair. It is shown that the
M-theory lift of this region is AdS_3 x S^2. Surprisingly, time translations in
the far asymptotic region reduce to global, rather than Poincare, time
translations in this core AdS_3. We further find that the quantum mechanical
ground state degeneracy reproduces the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy-area law.Comment: 11 page
Recommended from our members
Next generation doctoral training for future infrastructure and built environment
Urbanisation, population growth, scarcity of resources, climatic change, rapid technological development, and the globalisation of both construction and engineering design are driving the pace of change within the construction industry. There is a clear need for engineering education to evolve alongside these changes. Specific challenges facing the construction industry include the delivery of large complex construction projects, creating complex underground spaces and the ramifications of extreme environments. At a doctoral level, there is a need to provide training that reflects both modern research practice, facilitating multi-disciplinary and industry collaborations, and the need for industry leadership in order to drive innovation and entrepreneurship. There is also a shortage in skills to address the complex and multi-sector challenges facing future construction.
We have been advocating a new philosophy for training doctoral students which will deliver the next generation of PhD graduates who are equipped with the deep technical skills needed to address future challenges in Engineering, but who will also become future leaders capable of thinking outside current norms and with a strong sense of social responsibility. To achieve this aim, a new MRes/PhD programme was established. From the outset, one striking feature has been the range of disciplines outside of civil engineering that the students on the programme come from including architecture, town planning, applied mathematics and physics, information and computer engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, and materials science. This has introduced challenges in terms of ensuring that a sound civil engineering technical basis is established across the cohort during the MRes year. However, it has greatly enriched the diversity of the cohort and promoted the importance of the role of multiple disciplines to successfully address 21st century engineering challenges in new and innovative ways.
This paper discusses and reflects upon the achievements to date, the pedagogical and structural approaches taken, the practicalities of implementing this vision and shares the lessons learnt to date. Selected contributions to doctoral training are highlighted through a series of case studies in the context of the development of a T-shaped skill set, providing breadth of knowledge with depth of specialist expertise, and the delivery of multi-disciplinary research with significant industry engagement. The case studies illustrate how these aims have been implemented through project work, focusing on multi-disciplinary aspects of large infrastructure projects and commercial feasibility of nascent technologies
Kerr-AdS and its Near-horizon Geometry: Perturbations and the Kerr/CFT Correspondence
We investigate linear perturbations of spin-s fields in the Kerr-AdS black
hole and in its near-horizon geometry (NHEK-AdS), using the Teukolsky master
equation and the Hertz potential. In the NHEK-AdS geometry we solve the
associated angular equation numerically and the radial equation exactly. Having
these explicit solutions at hand, we search for linear mode instabilities. We
do not find any (non-)axisymmetric instabilities with outgoing boundary
conditions. This is in agreement with a recent conjecture relating the
linearized stability properties of the full geometry with those of its
near-horizon geometry. Moreover, we find that the asymptotic behaviour of the
metric perturbations in NHEK-AdS violates the fall-off conditions imposed in
the formulation of the Kerr/CFT correspondence (the only exception being the
axisymmetric sector of perturbations).Comment: 26 pages. 4 figures. v2: references added. matches published versio
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