4,817 research outputs found
Volume modulus inflation and a low scale of SUSY breaking
The relation between the Hubble constant and the scale of supersymmetry
breaking is investigated in models of inflation dominated by a string modulus.
Usually in this kind of models the gravitino mass is of the same order of
magnitude as the Hubble constant which is not desirable from the
phenomenological point of view. It is shown that slow-roll saddle point
inflation may be compatible with a low scale of supersymmetry breaking only if
some corrections to the lowest order Kahler potential are taken into account.
However, choosing an appropriate Kahler potential is not enough. There are also
conditions for the superpotential, and e.g. the popular racetrack
superpotential turns out to be not suitable. A model is proposed in which
slow-roll inflation and a light gravitino are compatible. It is based on a
superpotential with a triple gaugino condensation and the Kahler potential with
the leading string corrections. The problem of fine tuning and experimental
constraints are discussed for that model.Comment: 28 pages, 8 figures, comments and references added, minor change in
notation, version to be publishe
Measuring primality in numerical semigroups with embedding dimension three
Electronic version of an article published as Journal of Algebra and Its Applications, 15, 1, 2016, 1650007. DOI:10.1142/S0219498816500079 © World Scientific Publishing Company https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0219498816500079In this paper, we find the ω-value of the generators of any numerical semigroup with embedding dimension three. This allows us to determine all possible orderings of the ω-values of the generators. In addition, we relate the ω-value of the numerical semigroup to its catenary degree.The first and third authors received National Science Foundation support under DMS-1262897. The second author is supported by the projects MTM2010-15595, FQM-343, FQM-5849, NSF-1061366 and FEDER funds
Preheating After Modular Inflation
We study (p)reheating in modular (closed string) inflationary scenarios, with
a special emphasis on Kahler moduli/Roulette models. It is usually assumed that
reheating in such models occurs through perturbative decays. However, we find
that there are very strong non-perturbative preheating decay channels related
to the particular shape of the inflaton potential (which is highly nonlinear
and has a very steep minimum). Preheating after modular inflation, proceeding
through a combination of tachyonic instability and broad-band parametric
resonance, is perhaps the most violent example of preheating after inflation
known in the literature. Further, we consider the subsequent transfer of energy
to the standard model sector in scenarios where the standard model particles
are confined to a D7-brane wrapping the inflationary blow-up cycle of the
compactification manifold or, more interestingly, a non-inflationary blow up
cycle. We explicitly identify the decay channels of the inflaton in these two
scenarios. We also consider the case where the inflationary cycle shrinks to
the string scale at the end of inflation; here a field theoretical treatment of
reheating is insufficient and one must turn instead to a stringy description.
We estimate the decay rate of the inflaton and the reheat temperature for
various scenarios.Comment: 34 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in JCA
Systematics of Moduli Stabilization, Inflationary Dynamics and Power Spectrum
We study the scalar sector of type IIB superstring theory compactified on
Calabi-Yau orientifolds as a place to find a mechanism of inflation in the
early universe. In the large volume limit, one can stabilize the moduli in
stages using perturbative method. We relate the systematics of moduli
stabilization with methods to reduce the number of possible inflatons, which in
turn lead to a simpler inflation analysis. Calculating the order-of-magnitude
of terms in the equation of motion, we show that the methods are in fact valid.
We then give the examples where these methods are used in the literature. We
also show that there are effects of non-inflaton scalar fields on the scalar
power spectrum. For one of the two methods, these effects can be observed with
the current precision in experiments, while for the other method, the effects
might never be observable.Comment: 20 pages, JHEP style; v.2 and v.3: typos fixed, discussion and
references adde
Kahler Moduli Inflation Revisited
We perform a detailed numerical analysis of inflationary solutions in Kahler
moduli of type IIB flux compactifications. We show that there are inflationary
solutions even when all the fields play an important role in the overall shape
of the scalar potential. Moreover, there exists a direction of attraction for
the inflationary trajectories that correspond to the constant volume direction.
This basin of attraction enables the system to have an island of stability in
the set of initial conditions. We provide explicit examples of these
trajectories, compute the corresponding tilt of the density perturbations power
spectrum and show that they provide a robust prediction of n_s approximately
0.96 for 60 e-folds of inflation.Comment: 27 pages, 9 figure
Inflation with racetrack superpotential and matter field
Several models of inflation with the racetrack superpotential for the volume
modulus coupled to a matter field are investigated. In particular, it is shown
that two classes of racetrack inflation models, saddle point and inflection
point ones, can be constructed in a fully supersymmetric framework with the
matter field F-term as a source of supersymmetry breaking and uplifting. Two
models of F-term supersymmetry breaking are considered: the Polonyi model and
the quantum corrected O'Raifeartaigh model. In the former case, both classes of
racetrack inflation models differ significantly from the corresponding models
with non-supersymmetric uplifting. The main difference is a quite strong
dominance of the inflaton by the matter field. In addition, fine-tuning of the
parameters is relaxed as compared to the original racetrack models. In the case
of the racetrack inflation models coupled to the O'Raifeartaigh model, the
matter field is approximately decoupled from the inflationary dynamics. In all
of the above models the gravitino mass is larger than the Hubble scale during
inflation. The possibility of having the gravitino much lighter than the Hubble
scale is also investigated. It is very hard to construct models with light
gravitino in which the volume modulus dominates inflation. On the other hand,
models in which the inflationary dynamics is dominated by the matter field are
relatively simple and seem to be more natural.Comment: 40 pages, 13 figures, references added, typos corrected, version to
be publishe
Intratumoral injection of hydrogel-embedded nanoparticles enhances retention in glioblastoma
Intratumoral drug delivery is a promising approach for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). However, drug washout remains a major challenge in GBM therapy. Our strategy, aimed at reducing drug clearance and enhancing site-specific residence time, involves the local administration of a multi-component system comprised of nanoparticles (NPs) embedded within a thermosensitive hydrogel (HG). Herein, our objective was to examine the distribution of NPs and their cargo following intratumoral administration of this system in GBM. We hypothesized that the HG matrix, which undergoes rapid gelation upon increases in temperature, would contribute towards heightened site-specific retention and permanence of NPs in tumors. BODIPY-containing, infrared dye-labeled polymeric NPs embedded in a thermosensitive HG (HG-NPs) were fabricated and characterized. Retention and distribution dynamics were subsequently examined over time in orthotopic GBM-bearing mice. Results demonstrate that the HG-NPs system significantly improved site-specific, long-term retention of both NPs and BODIPY, with co-localization analyses showing that HG-NPs covered larger areas of the tumor and the peri-tumor region at later time points. Moreover, NPs released from the HG were shown to undergo uptake by surrounding GBM cells. Findings suggest that intratumoral delivery with HG-NPs has immense potential for GBM treatment, as well as other strategies where site-specific, long-term retention of therapeutic agents is warranted. This journal i
Grand Unification Signal from Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays?
The spectrum of ultrahigh energy (above \approx 10^{9} GeV) cosmic rays is
consistent with the decay of GUT scale particles. The predicted mass is
m_X=10^b GeV, where b=14.6_{-1.7}^{+1.6}.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures one figure removed, one table added, conclusions
essentially remained the same within errorbar
Viremic HIV Infected Individuals with High CD4 T Cells and Functional Envelope Proteins Show Anti-gp41 Antibodies with Unique Specificity and Function
BACKGROUND: CD4 T-cell decay is variable among HIV-infected individuals. In exceptional cases, CD4 T-cell counts remain stable despite high plasma viremia. HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env) properties, namely tropism, fusion or the ability to induce the NK ligand NKp44L, or host factors that modulate Env cytopathic mechanisms may be modified in such situation. METHODS: We identified untreated HIV-infected individuals showing non-cytopathic replication (VL>10,000 copies/mL and CD4 T-cell decay<50 cells/µL/year, Viremic Non Progressors, VNP) or rapid progression (CD4 T-cells<350 cells/µL within three years post-infection, RP). We isolated full-length Env clones and analyzed their functions (tropism, fusion activity and capacity to induce NKp44L expression on CD4 cells). Anti-Env humoral responses were also analyzed. RESULTS: Env clones isolated from VNP or RP individuals showed no major phenotypic differences. The percentage of functional clones was similar in both groups. All clones tested were CCR5-tropic and showed comparable expression and fusogenic activity. Moreover, no differences were observed in their capacity to induce NKp44L expression on CD4 T cells from healthy donors through the 3S epitope of gp41. In contrast, anti- Env antibodies showed clear functional differences: plasma from VNPs had significantly higher capacity than RPs to block NKp44L induction by autologous viruses. Consistently, CD4 T-cells isolated from VNPs showed undetectable NKp44L expression and specific antibodies against a variable region flanking the highly conserved 3S epitope were identified in plasma samples from these patients. Conversely, despite continuous antigen stimulation, VNPs were unable to mount a broad neutralizing response against HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Env functions (fusion and induction of NKp44L) were similar in viremic patients with slow or rapid progression to AIDS. However, differences in humoral responses against gp41 epitopes nearby 3S sequence may contribute to the lack of CD4 T cell decay in VNPs by blocking the induction of NKp44L by gp41
Serotypes, virulence genes and intimin types of Shiga toxin (verocytotoxin)-producing Escherichia coli isolates from minced beef in Lugo (Spain) from 1995 through 2003
BACKGROUND: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) have emerged as pathogens that can cause food-borne infections and severe and potentially fatal illnesses in humans, such as haemorrhagic colitis (HC) and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). In Spain, like in many other countries, STEC strains have been frequently isolated from ruminants, and represent a significant cause of sporadic cases of human infection. In view of the lack of data on STEC isolated from food in Spain, the objectives of this study were to determine the level of microbiological contamination and the prevalence of STEC O157:H7 and non-O157 in a large sampling of minced beef collected from 30 local stores in Lugo city between 1995 and 2003. Also to establish if those STEC isolated from food possessed the same virulence profiles as STEC strains causing human infections. RESULTS: STEC were detected in 95 (12%) of the 785 minced beef samples tested. STEC O157:H7 was isolated from eight (1.0%) samples and non-O157 STEC from 90 (11%) samples. Ninety-six STEC isolates were further characterized by PCR and serotyping. PCR showed that 28 (29%) isolates carried stx(1 )genes, 49 (51%) possessed stx(2 )genes, and 19 (20%) both stx(1 )and stx(2). Enterohemolysin (ehxA) and intimin (eae) virulence genes were detected in 43 (45%) and in 25 (26%) of the isolates, respectively. Typing of the eae variants detected four types: γ1 (nine isolates), β1 (eight isolates), ε1 (three isolates), and θ (two isolates). The majority (68%) of STEC isolates belonged to serotypes previously detected in human STEC and 38% to serotypes associated with STEC isolated from patients with HUS. Ten new serotypes not previously described in raw beef products were also detected. The highly virulent seropathotypes O26:H11 stx(1 )eae-β1, O157:H7 stx(1)stx(2 )eae-γ1 and O157:H7 stx(2)eae-γ1, which are the most frequently observed among STEC causing human infections in Spain, were detected in 10 of the 96 STEC isolates. Furthermore, phage typing of STEC O157:H7 isolates showed that the majority (seven of eight isolates) belonged to the main phage types previously detected in STEC O157:H7 strains associated with severe human illnesses. CONCLUSION: The results of this study do not differ greatly from those reported in other countries with regard to prevalence of O157 and non-O157 STEC in minced beef. As we suspected, serotypes different from O157:H7 also play an important role in food contamination in Spain, including the highly virulent seropathotype O26:H11 stx(1 )eae-β1. Thus, our data confirm minced beef in the city of Lugo as vehicles of highly pathogenic STEC. This requires that control measures to be introduced and implemented to increase the safety of minced beef
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