A connection between orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle and matrix orthogonal polynomials on the real line

Szego's procedure to connect orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle and orthogonal polynomials on [-1,1] is generalized to nonsymmetric measures. It generates the so-called semi-orthogonal functions on the linear space of Laurent polynomials L, and leads to a new orthogonality structure in the module LxL. This structure can be interpreted in terms of a 2x2 matrix measure on [-1,1], and semi-orthogonal functions provide the corresponding sequence of orthogonal matrix polynomials. This gives a connection between orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle and certain classes of matrix orthogonal polynomials on [-1,1]. As an application, the strong asymptotics of these matrix orthogonal polynomials is derived, obtaining an explicit expression for the corresponding Szego's matrix function.Comment: 28 page

Generalized Conformal Quantum Mechanics of D0-brane

We study the generalized conformal quantum mechanics of the probe D0-brane in the near horizon background of the bound state of source D0-branes. We elaborate on the relationship of such model to the M theory in the light cone frame.Comment: 14 pages, RevTeX, revised version with added references to appear in Phys. Rev.

Decision Problems for Nash Equilibria in Stochastic Games

We analyse the computational complexity of finding Nash equilibria in stochastic multiplayer games with $\omega$-regular objectives. While the existence of an equilibrium whose payoff falls into a certain interval may be undecidable, we single out several decidable restrictions of the problem. First, restricting the search space to stationary, or pure stationary, equilibria results in problems that are typically contained in PSPACE and NP, respectively. Second, we show that the existence of an equilibrium with a binary payoff (i.e. an equilibrium where each player either wins or loses with probability 1) is decidable. We also establish that the existence of a Nash equilibrium with a certain binary payoff entails the existence of an equilibrium with the same payoff in pure, finite-state strategies.Comment: 22 pages, revised versio

Impacto de la intervención farmacéutica en la adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral en pacientes de un hospital de Lima (Perú)

Introducción: La atención farmacéutica mejora la adherencia del paciente al tratamiento, por lo que es necesario que el farmacéutico cuente con instrumentos para evaluarla y mejorarla mediante su intervención en el seguimiento farmacoterapéutico (SFT). Objetivos: Evaluar el impacto de la intervención farmacéutica en la mejora de la adherencia de los pacientes con virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y sida, e identificar los factores que influyen en ella y que pueden ser modificados por la intervención farmacéutica en el SFT. Métodos: Se realizó SFT durante 23 meses a 52 pacientes mayores de 18 años de edad, con tratamiento antirretroviral durante más de 3 meses, que dieron su consentimiento informado. La adherencia se evaluó con el CEAT-VIH (cuestionario para evaluar la adhesión al tratamiento antirretroviral) al inicio y al final de 6 meses de SFT. Resultados: La puntuación total del CEAT-VIH (p <0,05; intervalo de confianza del 95%), el cumplimiento del tratamiento (p <0,001) y la percepción del paciente respecto a su enfermedad y tratamiento antirretroviral (p <0,001) incrementaron significativamente su valor. La educación al paciente para incrementar la adherencia al tratamiento (46%) fue la intervención farmacéutica más frecuente. Conclusiones: Se demuestra que la intervención del farmacéutico, mediante el SFT, mejora la adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral. El farmacéutico mejoró los aspectos de cumplimiento y percepción del paciente sobre su tratamiento y enfermedad. Los farmacéuticos pueden utilizar el CEAT-VIH como instrumento para evaluar la adherencia en la práctica del SFT

Impacto de la intervención farmacéutica en la adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral en pacientes de un hospital de Lima (Perú)

Introducción: La atención farmacéutica mejora la adherencia del paciente al tratamiento, por lo que es necesario que el farmacéutico cuente con instrumentos para evaluarla y mejorarla mediante su intervención en el seguimiento farmacoterapéutico (SFT). Objetivos: Evaluar el impacto de la intervención farmacéutica en la mejora de la adherencia de los pacientes con virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y sida, e identificar los factores que influyen en ella y que pueden ser modificados por la intervención farmacéutica en el SFT. Métodos: Se realizó SFT durante 23 meses a 52 pacientes mayores de 18 años de edad, con tratamiento antirretroviral durante más de 3 meses, que dieron su consentimiento informado. La adherencia se evaluó con el CEAT-VIH (cuestionario para evaluar la adhesión al tratamiento antirretroviral) al inicio y al final de 6 meses de SFT. Resultados: La puntuación total del CEAT-VIH (p <0,05; intervalo de confianza del 95%), el cumplimiento del tratamiento (p <0,001) y la percepción del paciente respecto a su enfermedad y tratamiento antirretroviral (p <0,001) incrementaron significativamente su valor. La educación al paciente para incrementar la adherencia al tratamiento (46%) fue la intervención farmacéutica más frecuente. Conclusiones: Se demuestra que la intervención del farmacéutico, mediante el SFT, mejora la adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral. El farmacéutico mejoró los aspectos de cumplimiento y percepción del paciente sobre su tratamiento y enfermedad. Los farmacéuticos pueden utilizar el CEAT-VIH como instrumento para evaluar la adherencia en la práctica del SFT

Compilation of parameterized seismogenic sources in Iberia for the SHARE European-scale seismic source model.

Abstract: SHARE (Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe) is an EC-funded project (FP7) that aims to evaluate European seismic hazards using an integrated, standardized approach. In the context of SHARE, we are compiling a fully-parameterized active fault database for Iberia and the nearby offshore region. The principal goal of this initiative is for fault sources in the Iberian region to be represented in SHARE and incorporated into the source model that will be used to produce seismic hazard maps at the European scale. The SHARE project relies heavily on input from many regional experts throughout the Euro-Mediterranean region. At the SHARE regional meeting for Iberia, the 2010 Working Group on Iberian Seismogenic Sources (WGISS) was established; these researchers are contributing to this large effort by providing their data to the Iberian regional integrators in a standardized format. The development of the SHARE Iberian active fault database is occurring in parallel with IBERFAULT, another ongoing effort to compile a database of active faults in the Iberian region. The SHARE Iberian active fault database synthesizes a wide range of geological and geophysical observations on active seismogenic sources, and incorporates existing compilations (e.g., Cabral, 1995; Silva et al., 2008), original data contributed directly from researchers, data compiled from the literature, parameters estimated using empirical and analytical relationships, and, where necessary, parameters derived using expert judgment. The Iberian seismogenic source model derived for SHARE will be the first regional-scale source model for Iberia that includes fault data and follows an internationally standardized approach (Basili et al., 2008; 2009). This model can be used in both seismic hazard and risk analyses and will be appropriate for use in Iberian- and European-scale assessments

Lorentz and CPT Violation in Neutrinos

A general formalism is presented for violations of Lorentz and CPT symmetry in the neutrino sector. The effective hamiltonian for neutrino propagation in the presence of Lorentz and CPT violation is derived, and its properties are studied. Possible definitive signals in existing and future neutrino-oscillation experiments are discussed. Among the predictions are direction-dependent effects, including neutrino-antineutrino mixing, sidereal and annual variations, and compass asymmetries. Other consequences of Lorentz and CPT violation involve unconventional energy dependences in oscillation lengths and mixing angles. A variety of simple models both with and without neutrino masses are developed to illustrate key physical effects. The attainable sensitivities to coefficients for Lorentz violation in the Standard-Model Extension are estimated for various types of experiments. Many experiments have potential sensitivity to Planck-suppressed effects, comparable to the best tests in other sectors. The lack of existing experimental constraints, the wide range of available coefficient space, and the variety of novel effects imply that some or perhaps even all of the existing data on neutrino oscillations might be due to Lorentz and CPT violation.Comment: 25 pages REVTe

Intratumoral injection of dendritic cells engineered to secrete interleukin-12 by recombinant adenovirus in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal carcinomas.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of intratumoral injection of autologous dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with an adenovirus encoding interleukin-12 genes (AFIL-12) for patients with metastatic gastrointestinal carcinomas. Secondarily, we have evaluated biologic effects and antitumoral activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients with metastatic pancreatic (n = 3), colorectal (n = 5), or primary liver (n = 9) malignancies entered the study. DCs were generated from CD14+ monocytes from leukapheresis, cultured and transfected with AFIL-12 before administration. Doses from 10 x 10(6) to 50 x 10(6) cells were escalated in three cohorts of patients. Patients received up to three doses at 21-day intervals. RESULTS: Fifteen (88%) and 11 of 17 (65%) patients were assessable for toxicity and response, respectively. Intratumoral DC injections were mainly guided by ultrasound. Treatment was well tolerated. The most common side effects were lymphopenia, fever, and malaise. Interferon gamma and interleukin-6 serum concentrations were increased in 15 patients after each treatment, as well as peripheral blood natural killer activity in five patients. DC transfected with AFIL-12 stimulated a potent antibody response against adenoviral capsides. DC treatment induced a marked increase of infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes in three of 11 tumor biopsies analyzed. A partial response was observed in one patient with pancreatic carcinoma. Stable disease was observed in two patients and progression in eight patients, with two of the cases fast-progressing during treatment. CONCLUSION: Intratumoral injection of DC transfected with an adenovirus encoding interleukin-12 to patients with metastatic gastrointestinal malignancies is feasible and well tolerated. Further studies are necessary to define and increase clinical efficacy

Lorentz breaking Effective Field Theory and observational tests

Analogue models of gravity have provided an experimentally realizable test field for our ideas on quantum field theory in curved spacetimes but they have also inspired the investigation of possible departures from exact Lorentz invariance at microscopic scales. In this role they have joined, and sometime anticipated, several quantum gravity models characterized by Lorentz breaking phenomenology. A crucial difference between these speculations and other ones associated to quantum gravity scenarios, is the possibility to carry out observational and experimental tests which have nowadays led to a broad range of constraints on departures from Lorentz invariance. We shall review here the effective field theory approach to Lorentz breaking in the matter sector, present the constraints provided by the available observations and finally discuss the implications of the persisting uncertainty on the composition of the ultra high energy cosmic rays for the constraints on the higher order, analogue gravity inspired, Lorentz violations.Comment: 47 pages, 4 figures. Lecture Notes for the IX SIGRAV School on "Analogue Gravity", Como (Italy), May 2011. V.3. Typo corrected, references adde