Can extreme black Holes have (long) Abelian Higgs hair?

It has been argued that a black hole horizon can support the long-range fields of a Nielsen-Olesen string and that one can think of such a vortex as black hole "hair." In this paper, we examine the properties of an Abelian Higgs vortex in the presence of a charged black hole as we allow the hole to approach extremality. Using both analytical and numerical techniques, we show that the magnetic field lines (as well as the scalar field) of the vortex are completely expelled from the black hole in the extreme limit. This was to be expected, since extreme black holes in Einstein-Maxwell theory are known to exhibit such a "Meissner effect" in general. This would seem to imply that a vortex does not want to be attached to an extreme black hole. We calculate the total energy of the vortex fields in the presence of an extreme black hole. When the hole is small relative to the size of the vortex, it is energetically favored for the hole to remain inside the vortex region, contrary to the intuition that the hole should be expelled. However, as we allow the extreme horizon radius to become very large compared to the radius of the vortex, we do find evidence of an instability. This proves that it is energetically unfavorable for a thin vortex to interact with a large extreme black hole. This would seem to dispel the notion that a black hole can support "long" Abelian Higgs hair in the extreme limit. We show that these considerations do not go through in the near-extreme limit. Finally, we discuss the implications for strings that end at black holes, as in the processes where a string snaps by nucleating black holes.

Superconducting p-branes and extremal black holes

In Einstein-Maxwell theory, magnetic flux lines are "expelled" from a black hole as extremality is approached, in the sense that the component of the field strength normal to the horizon goes to zero. Thus, extremal black holes are found to exhibit the sort of ¿Meissner effect¿ which is characteristic of superconducting media. We review some of the evidence for this effect and present new evidence for it using recently found black hole solutions in string theory and Kaluza-Klein theory. We also present some new solutions, which arise naturally in string theory, which are non-superconducting extremal black holes. We present a nice geometrical interpretation of these effects derived by looking carefully at the higher dimensional configurations from which the lower dimensional black hole solutions are obtained. We show that other extremal solitonic objects in string theory (such as p-branes) can also display superconducting properties. In particular, we argue that the relativistic London equation will hold on the world volume of ¿light¿ superconducting p-branes (which are embedded in flat space), and that minimally coupled zero modes will propagate in the adS factor of the near-horizon geometries of "heavy," or gravitating, superconducting p-branes.

Propionic acidemia: clinical course and outcome in 55 pediatric and adolescent patients.

BACKGROUND: Propionic acidemia is an inherited disorder caused by deficiency of propionyl-CoA carboxylase. Although it is one of the most frequent organic acidurias, information on the outcome of affected individuals is still limited. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: Clinical and outcome data of 55 patients with propionic acidemia from 16 European metabolic centers were evaluated retrospectively. 35 patients were diagnosed by selective metabolic screening while 20 patients were identified by newborn screening. Endocrine parameters and bone age were evaluated. In addition, IQ testing was performed and the patients' and their families' quality of life was assessed. RESULTS: The vast majority of patients (>85%) presented with metabolic decompensation in the neonatal period. Asymptomatic individuals were the exception. About three quarters of the study population was mentally retarded, median IQ was 55. Apart from neurologic symptoms, complications comprised hematologic abnormalities, cardiac diseases, feeding problems and impaired growth. Most patients considered their quality of life high. However, according to the parents' point of view psychic problems were four times more common in propionic acidemia patients than in healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Our data show that the outcome of propionic acidemia is still unfavourable, in spite of improved clinical management. Many patients develop long-term complications affecting different organ systems. Impairment of neurocognitive development is of special concern. Nevertheless, self-assessment of quality of life of the patients and their parents yielded rather positive results.

TLR3-Mediated CD8+ Dendritic Cell Activation Is Coupled with Establishment of a Cell-Intrinsic Antiviral State.

Because of their unique capacity to cross-present Ags to CD8(+) T cells, mouse lymphoid tissue-resident CD8(+) dendritic cells (DCs) and their migratory counterparts are critical for priming antiviral T cell responses. High expression of the dsRNA sensor TLR3 is a distinctive feature of these cross-presenting DC subsets. TLR3 engagement in CD8(+) DCs promotes cross-presentation and the acquisition of effector functions required for driving antiviral T cell responses. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the TLR3-induced antiviral program and cell-autonomous immunity in CD8(+) DC lines and primary CD8(+) DCs. We found that TLR3-ligand polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid and human rhinovirus infection induced a potent antiviral protection against Sendai and vesicular stomatitis virus in a TLR3 and type I IFN receptor-dependent manner. Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid-induced antiviral genes were identified by mass spectrometry-based proteomics and transcriptomics in the CD8(+) DC line. Nanostring nCounter experiments confirmed that these antiviral genes were induced by TLR3 engagement in primary CD8(+) DCs, and indicated that many are secondary TLR3-response genes requiring autocrine IFN-β stimulation. TLR3-activation thus establishes a type I IFN-dependent antiviral program in a DC subtype playing crucial roles in priming adaptive antiviral immune responses. This mechanism is likely to shield the priming of antiviral responses against inhibition or abrogation by the viral infection. It could be particularly relevant for viruses detected mainly by TLR3, which may not trigger type I IFN production by DCs that lack TLR3, such as plasmacytoid DCs or CD8(-) DCs.

Chronic postsurgical pain in Europe: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is an important clinical problem. Prospective studies of the incidence, characteristics and risk factors of CPSP are needed. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of CPSP. DESIGN: A multicentre, prospective, observational trial. SETTING: Twenty-one hospitals in 11 European countries. PATIENTS: Three thousand one hundred and twenty patients undergoing surgery and enrolled in the European registry PAIN OUT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain-related outcome was evaluated on the first postoperative day (D1) using a standardised pain outcome questionnaire. Review at 6 and 12 months via e-mail or telephonic interview used the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and the DN4 (Douleur Neuropathique four questions). Primary endpoint was the incidence of moderate to severe CPSP (numeric rating scale, NRS ≥3/10) at 12 months. RESULTS: For 1044 and 889 patients, complete data were available at 6 and 12 months. At 12 months, the incidence of moderate to severe CPSP was 11.8% (95% CI 9.7 to 13.9) and of severe pain (NRS ≥6) 2.2% (95% CI 1.2 to 3.3). Signs of neuropathic pain were recorded in 35.4% (95% CI 23.9 to 48.3) and 57.1% (95% CI 30.7 to 83.4) of patients with moderate and severe CPSP, respectively. Functional impairment (BPI) at 6 and 12 months increased with the severity of CPSP (P < 0.01) and presence of neuropathic characteristics (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified orthopaedic surgery, preoperative chronic pain and percentage of time in severe pain on D1 as risk factors. A 10% increase in percentage of time in severe pain was associated with a 30% increase of CPSP incidence at 12 months. CONCLUSION: The collection of data on CPSP was feasible within the European registry PAIN OUT. The incidence of moderate to severe CPSP at 12 months was 11.8%. Functional impairment was associated with CPSP severity and neuropathic characteristics. Risk factors for CPSP in the present study were chronic preoperative pain, orthopaedic surgery and percentage of time in severe pain on D1. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01467102.

Reação de porta-enxertos híbridos ao Citrus tristeza virus

A tristeza causada pelo vírus da tristeza dos citros (Citrus tristeza virus, CTV) é uma das principais viroses dos citros (Citrus spp.) no Brasil. Alguns autores têm utilizado a intensidade de caneluras produzidas nos ramos para selecionar plantas com resistência ao vírus. Neste trabalho foi avaliada a reação de porta-enxertos híbridos, provenientes do programa de melhoramento genético de citros da Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura ao CTV e elaboradas duas escalas, uma fotográfica e outra diagramática, para quantificação de resistência ao CTV. Entre os porta-enxertos avaliados, a maioria apresentou poucas caneluras, sendo portanto considerados resistentes à tristeza. Verificou-se a manutenção da resistência ao vírus nos híbridos produzidos a partir de progenitores que possuíam algum nível de resistência.

Detecção e análise da variabilidade de seqüências do Banana streak virus (BSV) em bananeiras no Brasil

A técnica de PCR utilizando-se "primers" degenerados para o gênero Badnavirus foi utilizada para a detecção e análise da variabilidade de seqüências do Banana streak virus (BSV) provenientes de bananeiras. A partir desta metodologia seqüências do vírus puderam ser detectadas em cultivares diplóides (AA), triplóides (AAA; AAB) e tetraplóides (AAAB). Foram encontrados quatro padrões de seqüência do BSV (estirpes BSVBR-1, BSVBR-2, BSVBR-3 e BSVBR-4), diferenciadas através da análise do perfil eletroforético das amostras amplificadas. A estirpe BSVBR-1 prevalece nos estados do Acre, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Rondônia, Santa Catarina, e São Paulo, enquanto que, a estirpe BSVBR-2 foi encontrada em amostras oriundas do Amazonas e do Ceará. As estirpes BSVBR-3 e BSVBR-4 foram encontradas apenas no Ceará. Este trabalho revela a presença de diferentes estirpes do BSV no Brasil, bem como a existência de cultivares de bananeiras sadias e livres de seqüências virais do BSV integradas ao seu genoma.

Efeitos do Banana streak virus no desenvolvimento de cultivares de bananeira

Este trabalho avaliou, em condições de casa de vegetação, os efeitos da infecção pelo BSV no crescimento de cinco cultivares de bananeira. Mudas micropropagadas das cultivares SH 3640, FHIA 18, Caipira, Thap Maeo e Pioneira foram inoculadas com BSV pela cochonilha Planacoccus citri Risso. Como controles utilizaram-se mudas não inoculadas e inoculadas com cochonilhas não virulíferas. Avaliou-se a altura das plantas, o diâmetro do pseudocaule, o número de folhas, a área foliar e as massas da matéria seca da parte aérea e da raiz. Os primeiros sintomas do BSV foram detectados 15 dias após a inoculação em todas as plantas inoculadas com o vírus. Houve diferenças estatísticas significativas nas variáveis analisadas, concluindo-se que o vírus afetou o desenvolvimento das plantas de todas as cultivares avaliadas.

Indexação biológica de genótipos de bananeira para o Banana streak virus

O Banco Ativo de Germoplasma (BAG) de bananeira é a base do programa de melhoramento genético da Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura Tropical. O objetivo deste trabalho foi indexar os acessos do BAG para o vírus das estrias da bananeira (Banana streak virus, BSV). Cada amostra foliar, coletada dos 220 acessos do BAG foi utilizada na inoculação de três plantas de bananeira 'Caipira' produzidas por micropropagação. As plantas foram inoculadas, através da cochonilha vetora Planococcus citri Risso, fornecendo-se um acesso de aquisição de 24 horas e de transmissão de 48 horas. Como controle positivo e negativo foram utilizadas plantas previamente analisadas por PCR, quanto a presença de BSV. Entre 15 e 70 dias após a inoculação, as plantas indicadoras apresentaram os primeiros sintomas. Desta forma, verificou-se que 44 dos 220 acessos estavam infectados com BSV.

[Siboney]

Soitinnus: trumpetti, orkesteri.

Viabilidade polínica de Carica papaya L.: uma comparação metodológica

A viabilidade polínica do mamoeiro cultivar 'Sunrise Solo' (Carica papaya L.) foi estudada utilizando germinação in vitro e testes colorimétricos, assim como a validade dos testes colorimétricos como estimativa de viabilidade comparada àquela do teste germinativo. Os dois meios de cultura, descritos na literatura como meios eficientes para germinação da espécie, diferem basicamente pela presença de nutrientes essenciais e concentração de ágar. O meio de cultura sem elementos essenciais e com maior concentração de ágar forneceu o melhor índice de germinação polínica (65%). Os cinco corantes testados foram: 2,3,5-cloreto de trifeniltetrazólio (TTC), Alexander, carmim acético, lugol e Sudan IV. O teste de coloração com TTC forneceu estimativa de viabilidade (67,5%) equivalente ao teste de germinação in vitro e, portanto, confiável de viabilidade polínica. Os demais corantes testados superestimaram a viabilidade polínica (> 90%), porém são eficientes na determinação de constituintes celulares e da integridade do grão de pólen.

Chapman College Homecoming, Orange, California, 1978

Chapman College Homecoming, Orange, California, 1978. Left to right: Irvin "Ernie" Chapman, Agnes Burghardt, and Edy Chapman.

The 50th reunion of the Class of 1933, Chapman College, Orange, California, May 19, 1983

The 50th reunion of the Class of 1933, Chapman College, Orange, California, May 19, 1983. First row, left to right: Ruth (Mercer) Dorrance, Toribio Castillo, Melva (Carlmark) Haskell, Felix Pascua, Henry Searle, and Lois (Huntley) Todd. Back row, left to right: Ruta (Pelley) Upham, Paul Dear, John Parker, Howard Metzger, Irvin C. "Ernie" Chapman and Tom West.

Chapman Stadium, Chapman University, Orange, California

Chapman Stadium shortly before demolition, Chapman University, Orange, California, 2005. This stadium was originally constructed in 1934 by Orange Union High School, Orange, California. Ownership transferred to Chapman College in 1954. It was re-named in 2000 after the son of the university's namesake, Irvin "Ernie" C. Chapman, who played football at Chapman in the early 1930's. The stadium was torn down in 2005 and fully rebuilt and is now part of the Erin J. Lastinger Athletics Complex at Chapman University.

Bleachers in Chapman Stadium, Chapman College, Orange, California

Bleachers in Chapman Stadium, Chapman College, Orange, California. This stadium was originally constructed in 1934 by Orange Union High School, Orange, California. Ownership transferred to Chapman College in 1954. It was re-named in 2000 after the son of the university's namesake, Irvin "Ernie" C. Chapman, who played football at Chapman in the early 1930s. The stadium was torn down in 2005 and fully rebuilt and is now part of the Erin J. Lastinger Athletics Complex at Chapman University.