Serum cholesterol levels in neutropenic patients with fever

Hypocholesterolemia, which often accompanies infectious diseases has been suggested to serve as a prognostic marker in hospitalized patients. Even though patients with chemotherapyinduced leukopenia are at high risk of infection and mortality, only limited information is available on serum cholesterol levels in these patients. We therefore measured serum cholesterol levels in 17 patients with hematological malignancies during chemotherapyinduced neutropenia and correlated it with clinical outcome. Patients with fever (>38.5 degreesC) showed a significant decrease in serum cholesterol levels within 24 hours. Eight days after onset of the fever nonsurvivors had significantly lower serum cholesterol levels (median 2.09 mmol/l, range 0.492.79, n=6) compared to survivors (median 3.23 mmol/l, range 1.684.86, n=11). Cholesterol levels in survivors returned to baseline levels at the time of discharge from the hospital. At the onset of fever, serum levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and soluble TNF receptors p55 and p75 were elevated in all patients, but only TNF and TNF receptor p75 levels were significantly different in survivors and nonsurvivors. Our data suggest that a decrease in serum cholesterol levels is a prognostic marker in neutropenic patients with fever. Release of inflammatory cytokines may in part be responsible for hypocholesterolemia in these patients

Magnetic structures of RbCuCl_3 in a transverse field

A recent high-field magnetization experiment found a phase transition of unknown character in the layered, frustrated antiferromagnet RbCuCl_3, in a transverse field (in the layers). Motivated by these results, we have examined the magnetic structures predicted by a model of RbCuCl_3, using the classical approximation. At small fields, we obtain the structure already known to be optimal, an incommensurate (IC) spiral with wave vector q in the layers. At higher fields, we find a staircase of long-period commensurate (C) phases (separated initially by the low-field IC phase), then two narrow IC phases, then a fourth IC phase (also with intermediate C phases), and finally the ferromagnetically aligned phase at the saturation field H_S. The three-sublattice C states familiar from the theory of the triangular antiferromagnet are never optimal. The C phases and the two intermediate IC phases were previously unknown in this context. The magnetization is discontinuous at a field \approx 0.4H_S, in qualitative agreement with experiment, though we find much fine structure not reported.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Baryon Junction Stopping at the SPS and RHIC via HIJING/B

Baryon stopping at the SPS and RHIC energies is calculated by introducing a new baryon junction mechanism into HIJING. The exchange of a baryon junction, according to Regge phenomenology, leads to a cosh(y/2) rapidity dependence and an s^(-1/4) energy dependence of the inclusive baryon cross section. This baryon junction dynamics also leads naturally to enhanced p_T broadening in pA and AA together with enhanced mid-rapidity hyperon production.Comment: Proceedings for Quark Matter 97; 4 pages, 1 eps-figur

At what time does a quantum experiment have a result?

This paper provides a general method for defining a generalized quantum observable (or POVM) that supplies properly normalized conditional probabilities for the time of occurrence (i.e., of detection). This method treats the time of occurrence as a probabilistic variable whose value is to be determined by experiment and predicted by the Born rule. This avoids the problematic assumption that a question about the time at which an event occurs must be answered through instantaneous measurements of a projector by an observer, common to both Rovelli (1998) and Oppenheim et al. (2000). I also address the interpretation of experiments purporting to demonstrate the quantum Zeno effect, used by Oppenheim et al. (2000) to justify an inherent uncertainty for measurements of times.Comment: To appear in proceedings of 2015 ETH Zurich Workshop on Time in Physic

The mid-infrared Tully-Fisher relation: Spitzer Surface Photometry

The availability of photometric imaging of several thousand galaxies with the Spitzer Space Telescope enables a mid-infrared calibration of the correlation between luminosity and rotation in spiral galaxies. The most important advantage of the new calibration in the 3.6 micron band, IRAC ch.1, is photometric consistency across the entire sky. Additional advantages are minimal obscuration, observations of flux dominated by old stars, and sensitivity to low surface brightness levels due to favorable backgrounds. Through Spitzer cycle 7 roughly 3000 galaxies had been observed and images of these are available at the Spitzer archive. In cycle 8 a program called Cosmic Flows with Spitzer has been initiated that will increase by 1274 the available sample of spiral galaxies with inclinations greater than 45 degrees from face-on suitable for distance measurements. This paper describes procedures based on the photometry package Archangel that are being employed to analyze both the archival and the new data in a uniform way. We give results for 235 galaxies, our calibrator sample for the Tully-Fisher relation. Galaxy magnitudes are determined with uncertainties held below 0.05 mag for normal spiral systems. A subsequent paper will describe the calibration of the [3.6] luminosity-rotation relation.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal, 12 pages, 9 figure

Dielectronic Recombination of Argon-Like Ions

We present a theoretical investigation of dielectronic recombination (DR) of Ar-like ions that sheds new light on the behavior of the rate coefficient at low-temperatures where these ions form in photoionized plasmas. We provide results for the total and partial Maxwellian-averaged DR rate coefficients from the initial ground level of K II -- Zn XIII ions. It is expected that these new results will advance the accuracy of the ionization balance for Ar-like M-shell ions and pave the way towards a detailed modeling of astrophysically relevant X-ray absorption features. We utilize the AUTOSTRUCTURE computer code to obtain the accurate core-excitation thresholds in target ions and carry out multiconfiguration Breit-Pauli (MCBP) calculations of the DR cross section in the independent-processes, isolated-resonance, distorted-wave (IPIRDW) approximation. Our results mediate the complete absence of direct DR calculations for certain Ar-like ions and question the reliability of the existing empirical rate formulas, often inferred from renormalized data within this isoelectronic sequence

Effect of structure on tribomechanical properties of sintered (Al-12Si)-Sn composites

The structure, mechanical and tribological properties of sintered (Al-12Si)-xSn composites were investigated in the present study. The composites were obtained by sintering of the briquettes made of aluminum (Al-12Si) and tin powders mixture. It was found that the hot densification substantially increases the strength of sintered composites and also makes much higher their wear resistance under the dry friction against a steel counterbody. The mechanical properties of the obtained materials slowly decrease with an increasing of tin content up to 40 wt. %, while their wear resistance increases

Coding Theorem for a Class of Quantum Channels with Long-Term Memory

In this paper we consider the transmission of classical information through a class of quantum channels with long-term memory, which are given by convex combinations of product channels. Hence, the memory of such channels is given by a Markov chain which is aperiodic but not irreducible. We prove the coding theorem and weak converse for this class of channels. The main techniques that we employ, are a quantum version of Feinstein's Fundamental Lemma and a generalization of Helstrom's Theorem.Comment: Some typos correcte

Off-pump surgery for the poor ventricle?

Severely decreased ejection-fraction is an established risk-factor for worse outcome after cardiac surgery. We compare outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) and on-pump CABG (ONCABG) in patients with severely compromised EF. From 2004 to 2009, 478 patients with a decreased EF ≤35% underwent myocardial-revascularization. Patients received either OPCAB (n=256) or ONCABG (n=222). Propensity score (PS), including 50 preoperative risk-factors, was used to balance characteristics between groups. PS adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed to assess mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). A composite endpoint for major non-cardiac complications such as respiratory failure, renal failure, rethoracotomy was applied. Complete revascularization (CR) was assumed when the number of distal anastomoses was larger than that of diseased vessels. There was no difference for mortality (2.3 vs. 4.1%; PS-adjusted odds ratio (PS-OR)=1.05; p=0.93) and MACCE (13.7 vs. 17.6%; PS-OR=1.22; p=0.50) including myocardial-infarction (1.4 vs. 4.9%; PS-OR=0.39; p=0.26), low cardiac output (2.3 vs. 4.7%; PS-OR=0.75; p=0.72) and stroke (2.3 vs. 2.7%; PS-OR=0.69; p=0.66). OPCAB patients presented with a trend to less frequent occurrence of the non-cardiac composite (12.1 vs. 22.1%; PS-OR=0.54; p=0.059) including renal dysfunction (PAOR=0.77; 95% CI 0.31-1.9; p=0.57), bleeding (PAOR=0.42; 95% CI 0.14-1.20; p=0.10) and respiratory failure (PAOR=0.39; 95% CI 0.05-3.29; p=0.39). The rate of complete revascularization was similar (92.2 vs. 92.8%; PS-OR=0.75; p=0.50). OPCAB in patients with severely decreased EF is safe and feasible. It may even benefit these patients in regard to non-cardiac complications and does not come at cost of less complete revascularizatio