Diagonal deformations of thin center vortices and their stability in Yang-Mills theories

The importance of center vortices for the understanding of the confining properties of SU(N) Yang-Mills theories is well established in the lattice. However, in the continuum, there is a problem concerning the relevance of center vortex backgrounds. They display the so called Savvidy-Nielsen-Olesen instability, associated with a gyromagnetic ratio $g^{(b)}_m=2$ for the off-diagonal gluons. In this work, we initially consider the usual definition of a {\it thin} center vortex and rewrite it in terms of a local color frame in SU(N) Yang-Mills theories. Then, we define a thick center vortex as a diagonal deformation of the thin object. Besides the usual thick background profile, this deformation also contains a frame defect coupled with gyromagnetic ratio $g^{(d)}_m=1$, originated from the charged sector. As a consequence, the analysis of stability is modified. In particular, we point out that the defect should stabilize a vortex configuration formed by a pair of straight components separated by an appropriate finite distance.Comment: 20 pages, LaTe

Travel burden and clinical presentation of retinoblastoma: analysis of 1024 patients from 43 African countries and 518 patients from 40 European countries

BACKGROUND: The travel distance from home to a treatment centre, which may impact the stage at diagnosis, has not been investigated for retinoblastoma, the most common childhood eye cancer. We aimed to investigate the travel burden and its impact on clinical presentation in a large sample of patients with retinoblastoma from Africa and Europe. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis including 518 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 40 European countries and 1024 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 43 African countries. RESULTS: Capture rate was 42.2% of expected patients from Africa and 108.8% from Europe. African patients were older (95% CI -12.4 to -5.4, p<0.001), had fewer cases of familial retinoblastoma (95% CI 2.0 to 5.3, p<0.001) and presented with more advanced disease (95% CI 6.0 to 9.8, p<0.001); 43.4% and 15.4% of Africans had extraocular retinoblastoma and distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis, respectively, compared to 2.9% and 1.0% of the Europeans. To reach a retinoblastoma centre, European patients travelled 421.8 km compared to Africans who travelled 185.7 km (p<0.001). On regression analysis, lower-national income level, African residence and older age (p<0.001), but not travel distance (p=0.19), were risk factors for advanced disease. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than half the expected number of patients with retinoblastoma presented to African referral centres in 2017, suggesting poor awareness or other barriers to access. Despite the relatively shorter distance travelled by African patients, they presented with later-stage disease. Health education about retinoblastoma is needed for carers and health workers in Africa in order to increase capture rate and promote early referral

Insights on the properties of levofloxacin-adsorbed Sr- and Mg-doped calcium phosphate powders

Several types of biodegradable materials have been investigated for the treatment of osteomyelitis. Calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics are among the most performing materials due to their resemblance to human hard tissues in terms of mineralogical composition, and proven ability to adsorb and deliver a number of drugs. This research work was intended to study the suitability of modified CaP powders loaded with a fluoroquinolone as drug delivery systems for osteomyelitis treatment. Levofloxacin (LEV) was chosen due to the well-recognized antistaphylococcal activity and adequate penetration into osteoarticular tissues. Substituted CaP powders (5 mol% Sr2+ or 5 mol% Mg2+) were synthesised through aqueous precipitation. The obtained powders were characterised by X-ray diffraction, SEM and FTIR analysis. The X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the presence of HA and beta-tricalcium phosphates (beta-TCP) phases in doped compositions, especially in the case of Mg-doped system. The fixation of LEV at the surface of the particles occurred only by physisorption. Both the in vitro microbiological susceptibility, against Staphylococcus spp, and biocompatibility of LEV-loaded CaP powders have not been compromised