677 research outputs found
Unexorcized ghost in DGP brane world
The braneworld model of Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati realizes the
self-accelerating universe. However, it is known that this cosmological
solution contains a spin-2 ghost. We study the possibility of avoiding the
appearance of the ghost by slightly modifying the model, introducing the second
brane. First we consider a simple model without stabilization of the separation
of the brane. By changing the separation between the branes, we find we can
erase the spin-2 ghost. However, this can be done only at the expense of the
appearance of a spin-0 ghost instead. We discuss why these two different types
of ghosts are correlated. Then, we examine a model with stabilization of the
brane separation. Even in this case, we find that the correlation between
spin-0 and spin-2 ghosts remains. As a result we find we cannot avoid the
appearance of ghost by two-branes model.Comment: 19 pages, 1 figur
The running of the electromagnetic coupling alpha in small-angle Bhabha scattering
A method to determine the running of alpha from a measurement of small-angle
Bhabha scattering is proposed and worked out. The method is suited to high
statistics experiments at e+e- colliders, which are equipped with luminometers
in the appropriate angular region. A new simulation code predicting small-angle
Bhabha scattering is also presentedComment: 15 pages, 3 Postscript figure
Patterns of genomic loss of heterozygosity predict homologous recombination repair defects in epithelial ovarian cancer
Background:
Defects in BRCA1, BRCA2, and other members of the homologous recombination pathway have potential therapeutic relevance when used to support agents that introduce or exploit double-stranded DNA breaks. This study examines the association between homologous recombination defects and genomic patterns of loss of heterozygosity (LOH). Methods:
Ovarian tumours from two independent data sets were characterised for defects in BRCA1,BRCA2, and RAD51C, and LOH profiles were generated. Publically available data were downloaded for a third independent data set. The same analyses were performed on 57 cancer cell lines. Results:
Loss of heterozygosity regions of intermediate size were observed more frequently in tumours with defective BRCA1 or BRCA2 (P=10−11). The homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) score was defined as the number of these regions observed in a tumour sample. The association between HRD score and BRCA deficiency was validated in two independent ovarian cancer data sets (P=10−5 and 10−29), and identified breast and pancreatic cell lines with BRCA defects. Conclusion:
The HRD score appears capable of detecting homologous recombination defects regardless of aetiology or mechanism. This score could facilitate the use of PARP inhibitors and platinum in breast, ovarian, and other cancers
Report of the NIH task force on research standards for chronic low back pain
Abstract
Despite rapidly increasing intervention, functional disability due to chronic low back pain (cLBP) has increased in recent decades. We often cannot identify mechanisms to explain the major negative impact cLBP has on patients\u27 lives. Such cLBP is often termed non-specific, and may be due to multiple biologic and behavioral etiologies. Researchers use varied inclusion criteria, definitions, baseline assessments, and outcome measures, which impede comparisons and consensus. The NIH Pain Consortium therefore charged a Research Task Force (RTF) to draft standards for research on cLBP. The resulting multidisciplinary panel recommended using 2 questions to define cLBP; classifying cLBP by its impact (defined by pain intensity, pain interference, and physical function); use of a minimal data set to describe research participants (drawing heavily on the PROMIS methodology); reporting responder analyses in addition to mean outcome scores; and suggestions for future research and dissemination. The Pain Consortium has approved the recommendations, which investigators should incorporate into NIH grant proposals. The RTF believes these recommendations will advance the field, help to resolve controversies, and facilitate future research addressing the genomic, neurologic, and other mechanistic substrates of chronic low back pain. We expect the RTF recommendations will become a dynamic document, and undergo continual improvement. PERSPECTIVE:
A Task Force was convened by the NIH Pain Consortium, with the goal of developing research standards for chronic low back pain. The results included recommendations for definitions, a minimal dataset, reporting outcomes, and future research. Greater consistency in reporting should facilitate comparisons among studies and the development of phenotypes
Derivative corrections to the Born-Infeld action through beta-function calculations in N=2 boundary superspace
We calculate the beta-functions for an open string sigma-model in the
presence of a U(1) background. Passing to N=2 boundary superspace, in which the
background is fully characterized by a scalar potential, significantly
facilitates the calculation. Performing the calculation through three loops
yields the equations of motion up to five derivatives on the fieldstrengths,
which upon integration gives the bosonic sector of the effective action for a
single D-brane in trivial bulk background fields through four derivatives and
to all orders in alpha'. Finally, the present calculation shows that demanding
ultra-violet finiteness of the non-linear sigma-model can be reformulated as
the requirement that the background is a deformed stable holomorphic U(1)
bundle.Comment: 25 pages, numerous figure
CD8+ T-cells count in acute myocardial infarction in HIV diseases in a predominantly male cohort
Human Immunodeficiency Virus- (HIV-) infected persons have a higher risk for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) than HIV-uninfected persons. Earlier studies suggest that HIV viral load, CD4+ T-cell count, and antiretroviral therapy are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Whether CD8+ T-cell count is associated with CVD risk is not clear. We investigated the association between CD8+ T-cell count and incident AMI in a cohort of 73,398 people (of which 97.3% were men) enrolled in the U.S. Veterans Aging Cohort Study-Virtual Cohort (VACS-VC). Compared to uninfected people, HIV-infected people with high baseline CD8+ T-cell counts (\u3e1065 cells/mm3) had increased AMI risk (adjusted , 95% CI: 1.46 to 2.28). There was evidence that the effect of CD8+ T-cell tertiles on AMI risk differed by CD4+ T-cell level: compared to uninfected people, HIV-infected people with CD4+ T-cell counts ≥200 cells/mm3 had increased AMI risk with high CD8+ T-cell count, while those with CD4+ T-cell counts \u3c200 cells/mm3 had increased AMI risk with low CD8+ T-cell count. CD8+ T-cell counts may add additional AMI risk stratification information beyond that provided by CD4+ T-cell counts alone
On kaonic hydrogen. Quantum field theoretic and relativistic covariant approach
We study kaonic hydrogen, the bound K^-p state A_(Kp). Within a quantum field
theoretic and relativistic covariant approach we derive the energy level
displacement of the ground state of kaonic hydrogen in terms of the amplitude
of K^-p scattering for arbitrary relative momenta. The amplitude of low-energy
K^-p scattering near threshold is defined by the contributions of three
resonances Lambda(1405), Lambda(1800) and Sigma^0(1750) and a smooth elastic
background. The amplitudes of inelastic channels of low-energy K^-p scattering
fit experimental data on near threshold behaviour of the cross sections and the
experimental data by the DEAR Collaboration. We use the soft-pion technique
(leading order in Chiral Perturbation Theory) for the calculation of the
partial width of the radiative decay of pionic hydrogen A_(pi p) -> n + gamma
and the Panofsky ratio. The theoretical prediction for the Panofsky ratio
agrees well with experimental data. We apply the soft-kaon technique (leading
order in Chiral Perturbation Theory) to the calculation of the partial widths
of radiative decays of kaonic hydrogen A_(Kp) -> Lambda^0 + gamma and A_(Kp) ->
Sigma^0 + gamma. We show that the contribution of these decays to the width of
the energy level of the ground state of kaonic hydrogen is less than 1%.Comment: 33 pages, 1 figure, latex, References are adde
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