Thermodynamic instability of doubly spinning black objects

We investigate the thermodynamic stability of neutral black objects with (at least) two angular momenta. We use the quasilocal formalism to compute the grand canonical potential and show that the doubly spinning black ring is thermodynamically unstable. We consider the thermodynamic instabilities of ultra-spinning black objects and point out a subtle relation between the microcanonical and grand canonical ensembles. We also find the location of the black string/membrane phases of doubly spinning black objects.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures v2: matches the published versio

Atmospheric characteristics favorable for the development of mesoscale convective complexes in southern Brazil

Mesoscale convective complexes (MCCs) are meteorological events that result in severe storms, hail, flood, and tornadoes, but they are difficult to forecast. In South America (SA), MCCs are usually larger and last longer than those in the USA. Southern Brazil (SB) is one of their preferred regions of occurrence. This study’s objective was to contribute to the identification of the main physical characteristics and atmospheric environment that favors the occurrence of MCCs in SB and determine how these events are unique relative to other subtropical SA (OSSA) regions. Results indicate that SB MCCs last longer (+3 h) and their average maximum extent is at least 50000 km2 larger than OSSA MCCs. The atmospheric environment of SB MCCs meets the criteria already indicated in previous studies, with the northerly low-level jet (LLJ), which brings humidity from the Amazon Basin to the SB MCCs genesis area, coupling with the upper-level jet (ULJ). Moreover, SB MCCs have the South Atlantic as their second source of moisture, which is advected by anticyclonic circulation in the southwestern South Atlantic. This indicates that SB MCCs have unique characteristics compared to OSSA MCCs, including 2 main atmospheric circulation systems responsible for moisture advection to the SB genesis region. For comparison, OSSA MCCs are more dependent on the South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ) and the advection of moisture by the LLJ from the Amazon Basin to north-central Argentina and west-central and southeast Brazil.</jats:p

Abstract P6-11-01: Cost-effectiveness of pertuzumab in HER2+ metastatic breast cancer

Abstract Purpose The Clinical Evaluation of Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab (CLEOPATRA) study showed a 15.7-month survival benefit with the addition of pertuzumab (P) to docetaxel and trastuzumab (TH) as first-line treatment for patients with HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis to assess the value of the addition of pertuzumab to docetaxel and trastuzumab. Patient and Methods We developed a decision-analytic Markov model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of TH with or without P in U.S. patients with metastatic breast cancer. The model followed patients weekly over their remaining lifetimes. Health states included: stable disease, progressing disease, hospice, and death. Transition probabilities were based on the CLEOPATRA study. Costs reflected the 2014 Medicare rates. Health state utilities were the same as those used in other recent cost-effectiveness studies of trastuzumab and pertuzumab. Outcomes included health benefits expressed as discounted quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs in U.S. dollars, and cost-effectiveness expressed as an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. One-way and multi-way deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses explored the effects of specific assumptions. Results Modeled median survival was 39.4 months (TH) and 56.9 months (THP). The addition of pertuzumab resulted in an additional 1.81 life years gained (0.62 QALYs) at a cost of $472,668 per QALY gained. Deterministic sensitivity analysis showed that THP is unlikely to be cost-effective even under the most favorable assumptions, and probabilistic sensitivity analysis predicted 0$100,000 per QALY gained. Conclusion The addition of pertuzumab to docetaxel and trastuzumab in patients with metastatic HER2+ breast cancer is unlikely to be cost-effective in the United States. Citation Format: Qian Y, Durkee BY, Pollom EL, King M, Dudley SA, Shaffer JB, Chang DT, Gibbs IC, Goldhaber-Fiebert JD, Horst KC. Cost-effectiveness of pertuzumab in HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-11-01.</jats:p