A compact rotating gravitational instanton

A compact rotating gravitational instanton (a positive-definite metric solution of the Einstein equations with Λ term) is presented. The manifold is the nontrivial S² fibre bundle over S² and has χ = 4, τ = 0, but no spinor structure. The metric can be obtained from a special limit of the positive-definite analytic extension of the Kerr-de Sitter metric or alternatively from the Taub-NUT metric with Λ term. The action is about $\text{4}\text{1}\text{2}\text{\%}$ less negative than that of the Einstein metric on the trivial bundle S² × S².     

Analysis of the click-evoked brainstem potentials in man unsing high-pass noise masking

Brainstem electrical responses (BSER) to 60-dB-SL click in noise high passed at various cutoff frequencies separated b 1/2-octave steps were recorded in normal-hearing adult subjects. By applying a derived response technique, narrow-band contributions to the BSER from specific portions of the basilar membrane were revealed. Latencies and amplitudes of the various waves in the derived BSER were recorded. Results indicate that nearly the whole cochlear partition can contribute to the brainstem response. The shifts in latency of waves I, III, and V and amplitude changes of waves I and III as a function of CF appear to be fully comparable to those of the AP. In contrast, the amplitude behavior of wave V as a function of CF is different from waves I and III depending upon frequency range. The discrepency in the behavior of wave V with respect to the earlier waves suggests some sort of neural reorganization at the level where was V is generated. The fact that there are contributions to the brainstem response from apical portions of the cochlea opens the possibility for extending the brainstem technique in assessing the higher cochlear turn function.     

Density correlations of hadron gas and the origin of early multiplicity scaling

We will define a sequence of functions called density correlations which measure statistical correlations between momentum space densities of particles in the ensemble of inelastic final states produced by scattering a pair of hadrons. Then we will show that early multiplicity scaling of the distribution of charged particles produced by pp collisions can primarly be explained by the assumption that fluctuations of the density of charged particles are quite random and therefore higher correlation functions are small in an appropriate sense, combined with the assumption that the first three density correlations fulfill an approximate form of Feyman scaling at small values of x. These assumptions will aslo be used to derive an expression for the scaling function Ψ(η) which is completely determined by <N²>_S/<N>_S² and <N³>_S/<N>_S³, and recursion relation to calculate <N^m>_S/<N>_S^m, m ? 4, from <N²>_S/<N>_S² and <N³>_S/<N>_S³. The prediction for Ψ(η) accurately reproduces data in the interval 0.2 ? η ? 3.1, 50 GeV/c ? p_L ? 303 GeV/c, and the predictions for <N_S>^m/<N>_S^m, 4 ? m ? 10, agree with observed values in the interval 50 GeV/c ? p_L ? 303 GeV/c.     

Characterization of pure high-grade DCIS on magnetic resonance imaging using the evolving breast MR lexicon terminology: can it be differentiated from pure invasive disease?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now a recognized method of imaging the breast. Unfortunately, there is lack of standardization in the MRI terminology used to characterize the appearance of breast lesions. Moreover, cases of mixed histologies are often imaged. We retrospectively identified cases of pure high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) using the recently introduced breast MRI lexicon and characterized the lesions in order to try and identify features that might distinguish high-grade DCIS from invasive disease. Five-year review of our institution's database revealed 637 patients underwent gadolinium-enhanced breast MRI examination. Twenty patients had histologically proven pure high-grade DCIS. After excluding patients with previous chemotherapy or inadequate MRI examination, 13 patients were analyzed and compared to the 13 most recent cases of pure invasive breast carcinoma. The morphological and dynamic features were then compared. High-grade DCIS cases were significantly more likely to show focal branching pattern (P=.03) and to have an irregular contour (P=.03), compared with invasive disease. Although of marginal statistical significance, DCIS lesions are more likely to have a lower morphological score than invasive carcinoma (P=.06), whilst the latter is more likely to show ring enhancement (P=.07). Use of breast MRI for staging at our institution shows that pure DCIS and pure invasive cancers are both rare entities. Despite the relatively limited numbers, we identified features that would help to differentiate high-grade DCIS from invasive carcinoma on MRI.     

Partial fluorination overcomes herringbone crystal packing in small polycyclic aromatics

[structure: see text] We report the synthesis and characterization of partially fluorinated condensed tetracyclic aromatic compounds. Typical edge-to-face/herringbone packing of nonfluorinated analogues is replaced here by columnar stacks with disk planes orthogonal to the columnar axes. Enhanced pi-overlap results with overlaid electron-poor and -rich regions.     

Determination of pharmaceutical compounds in skin by imaging matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOFMS) has been used to detect and image the distribution of a xenobiotic substance in skin. Porcine epidermal tissue was treated with 'Nizoral', a medicated shampoo containing ketoconazole (+/-)-1-acetyl-4-[p-[[(2R,4S)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]methoxy]phenyl]piperazine) as active ingredient. Following incubation for 1 h at 37 degrees C all excess formulation was washed from the surface. A cross-section of the drug-treated tissue was then blotted onto a cellulose membrane, precoated in matrix (alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA)), by airspray deposition. In separate experiments the tissue surface was treated with Nizoral within a triangular former, and subsequently blotted onto a matrix-coated membrane. Sample membranes were then mounted into the recess of specialised MALDI targets with adhesive tape. All samples were analysed by MALDI-TOFMS using an Applied Biosystem 'Q-star Pulsar i' hybrid Q-TOF mass spectrometer fitted with an orthagonal MALDI ion source and imaging software. Detection of the protonated molecule was readily achievable by this technique. Treatment of the tissue within a template gave rise to images depicting the expected distribution of the drug, demonstrating that this technique is capable of producing spatially useful data. Ion images demonstrating the permeation of the applied compound into the skin were achieved by imaging a cross-sectional imprint of treated tissue. A calibration graph for the determination of ketoconazole was prepared using the sodium adduct of the matrix ion as an internal standard. This enabled construction of a quantitative profile of drug in skin. Conventional haematoxylin and eosin staining and microscopy methods were employed to obtain a histological image of the porcine epidermal tissue. Superimposing the mass spectrometric and histological images appeared to indicate drug permeation into the dermal tissue layer.     

Heterogeneous InSb quantum well transistors on silicon for ultra-high speed, low power logic applications

The heterogeneous integration of InSb quantum well transistors onto silicon substrates is investigated for the first time. 85 nm gate length FETs with f_T = 305 GHz at V_ds = 0.5 V and DC performance suitable for digital logic are demonstrated on material with a buffer just 1.8 mum thick. An initial step towards integrating InSb FETs with mainstream Si CMOS for high-speed energy-efficient logic applications has been achieved.