1,109 research outputs found
Thermodynamics of Superstring on Near-extremal NS5 and Effective Hagedorn Behavior
We study the thermodynamical torus partition function of superstring on the
near-extremal black NS5-brane background. The exact partition function has been
computed with the helps of our previous works:[arXiv:1012.5721 [hep-th]],
[arXiv:1109.3365 [hep-th]], and naturally decomposed into two parts. The first
part is contributed from strings freely propagating in the asymptotic region,
which are identified as the superstring gas at the Hawking temperature on the
linear-dilaton background. The second part includes the contribution localized
around the `tip of cigar', which characterizes the non-extremality. Remarkably,
the latter part includes massless excitations with non-vanishing thermal
winding, which signifies that the Hagedorn-like behavior effectively appears,
even though the Hawking temperature is much lower than the Hagedorn
temperature. We also explore the high-temperature backgrounds defined by the
orbifolding along the Euclidean time direction. In those cases, the thermal
winding modes localized around the tip are found to be tachyonic, reflecting
the singularities of Euclidean backgrounds caused by orbifolding.Comment: 1+29 pages, no figure; v2 the footnote 1 is enhanced, to appear in
JHE
Comments on Non-holomorphic Modular Forms and Non-compact Superconformal Field Theories
We extend our previous work arXiv:1012.5721 [hep-th] on the non-compact N=2
SCFT_2 defined as the supersymmetric SL(2,R)/U(1)-gauged WZW model. Starting
from path-integral calculations of torus partition functions of both the
axial-type (`cigar') and the vector-type (`trumpet') models, we study general
models of the Z_M-orbifolds and M-fold covers with an arbitrary integer M. We
then extract contributions of the degenerate representations (`discrete
characters') in such a way that good modular properties are preserved. The
`modular completion' of the extended discrete characters introduced in
arXiv:1012.5721 [hep-th] are found to play a central role as suitable building
blocks in every model of orbifolds or covering spaces. We further examine a
large M-limit (the `continuum limit'), which `deconstructs' the spectral flow
orbits while keeping a suitable modular behavior. The discrete part of
partition function as well as the elliptic genus is then expanded by the
modular completions of irreducible discrete characters, which are parameterized
by both continuous and discrete quantum numbers modular transformed in a mixed
way. This limit is naturally identified with the universal cover of trumpet
model. We finally discuss a classification of general modular invariants based
on the modular completions of irreducible characters constructed above.Comment: 1+40 pages, no figure; v2 some points are clarified with respect to
the `continuum limit', typos corrected, to appear in JHEP; v3 footnotes added
in pages 18, 23 for the relation with arXiv:1407.7721[hep-th
On super form factors of half-BPS operators in N=4 super Yang-Mills
Open Access, (c) The Authors. Article funded by SCOAP3. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits any use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited
Multitrace deformations, Gamow states, and Stability of AdS/CFT
We analyze the effect of multitrace deformations in conformal field theories
at leading order in a large N approximation. These theories admit a description
in terms of a weakly coupled gravity dual. We show how the deformations can be
mapped into boundary terms of the gravity theory and how to reproduce the RG
equations found in field theory. In the case of doubletrace deformations, and
for bulk scalars with masses in the range , the deformed
theory flows between two fixed points of the renormalization group, manifesting
a resonant behavior at the scale characterizing the transition between the two
CFT's. On the gravity side the resonance is mapped into an IR non-normalizable
mode (Gamow state) whose overlap with the UV region increases as the dual
operator approaches the free field limit. We argue that this resonant behavior
is a generic property of large N theories in the conformal window, and
associate it to a remnant of the Nambu-Goldstone mode of dilatation invariance.
We emphasize the role of nonminimal couplings to gravity and establish a
stability theorem for scalar/gravity systems with AdS boundary conditions in
the presence of arbitrary boundary potentials and nonminimal coupling.Comment: 14 pages, references added, introduction change
The non-compact elliptic genus: mock or modular
We analyze various perspectives on the elliptic genus of non-compact
supersymmetric coset conformal field theories with central charge larger than
three. We calculate the holomorphic part of the elliptic genus via a free field
description of the model, and show that it agrees with algebraic expectations.
The holomorphic part of the elliptic genus is directly related to an
Appell-Lerch sum and behaves anomalously under modular transformation
properties. We analyze the origin of the anomaly by calculating the elliptic
genus through a path integral in a coset conformal field theory. The path
integral codes both the holomorphic part of the elliptic genus, and a
non-holomorphic remainder that finds its origin in the continuous spectrum of
the non-compact model. The remainder term can be shown to agree with a function
that mathematicians introduced to parameterize the difference between mock
theta functions and Jacobi forms. The holomorphic part of the elliptic genus
thus has a path integral completion which renders it non-holomorphic and
modular.Comment: 13 page
Large-scale synchrony of gap dynamics and the distribution of understory tree species in maple-beech forests
Large-scale synchronous variations in community dynamics are well documented for a vast array of organisms, but are considerably less understood for forest trees. Because of temporal variations in canopy gap dynamics, forest communities—even old-growth ones—are never at equilibrium at the stand scale. This paucity of equilibrium may also be true at the regional scale. Our objectives were to determine (1) if nonequilibrium dynamics caused by temporal variations in the formation of canopy gaps are regionally synchronized, and (2) if spatiotemporal variations in canopy gap formation aVect the relative abundance of tree species in the understory. We examined these questions by analyzing variations in the suppression and release history of Acer saccharum Marsh. and Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. from 481 growth series of understory saplings taken from 34 mature stands. We observed that (1) the proportion of stems in release as a function of time exhibited a U-shaped pattern over the last 35 years, with the lowest levels occurring during 1975–1985, and that (2) the response to this in terms of species composition was that A. saccharum became more abundant at sites that had the highest proportion of stems in release during 1975–1985. We concluded that the understory dynamics, typically thought of as a stand-scale process, may be regionally synchronized
Combinations of β-lactam or aminoglycoside antibiotics with plectasin are synergistic against methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Bacterial infections remain the leading killer worldwide which is worsened by the continuous emergence of antibiotic resistance. In particular, methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are prevalent and the latter can be difficult to treat. The traditional strategy of novel therapeutic drug development inevitably leads to emergence of resistant strains, rendering the new drugs ineffective. Therefore, rejuvenating the therapeutic potentials of existing antibiotics offers an attractive novel strategy. Plectasin, a defensin antimicrobial peptide, potentiates the activities of other antibiotics such as β-lactams, aminoglycosides and glycopeptides against MSSA and MRSA. We performed in vitro and in vivo investigations to test against genetically diverse clinical isolates of MSSA (n = 101) and MRSA (n = 115). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined by the broth microdilution method. The effects of combining plectasin with β-lactams, aminoglycosides and glycopeptides were examined using the chequerboard method and time kill curves. A murine neutropenic thigh model and a murine peritoneal infection model were used to test the effect of combination in vivo. Determined by factional inhibitory concentration index (FICI), plectasin in combination with aminoglycosides (gentamicin, neomycin or amikacin) displayed synergistic effects in 76-78% of MSSA and MRSA. A similar synergistic response was observed when plectasin was combined with β-lactams (penicillin, amoxicillin or flucloxacillin) in 87-89% of MSSA and MRSA. Interestingly, no such interaction was observed when plectasin was paired with vancomycin. Time kill analysis also demonstrated significant synergistic activities when plectasin was combined with amoxicillin, gentamicin or neomycin. In the murine models, plectasin at doses as low as 8 mg/kg augmented the activities of amoxicillin and gentamicin in successful treatment of MSSA and MRSA infections. We demonstrated that plectasin strongly rejuvenates the therapeutic potencies of existing antibiotics in vitro and in vivo. This is a novel strategy that can have major clinical implications in our fight against bacterial infections
Recommended from our members
Different Verbal Learning Strategies in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test
The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, which requires the free recall of the same list of 15 items over 5 trials, was administered to a group of highfunctioning adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (PDD) and a group of matched typical individuals. Overall levels of free recall were comparable in the two groups, as were the rates of learning over trials. Both groups also subjectively organised their recall to a similar extent. However, the serial position curve of the PDD participants, although similar to that of the comparison group on the first trial, became flatter on subsequent trials and was characterised by a slower growth in the primacy effect. Growth in the middle and recency portions of the curve was comparable in both groups. The findings are discussed in the light of current models of serial position effects and their implications for memory in ASD
High Interstitial Fluid Pressure Is Associated with Tumor-Line Specific Vascular Abnormalities in Human Melanoma Xenografts
PURPOSE: Interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) is highly elevated in many solid tumors. High IFP has been associated with low radiocurability and high metastatic frequency in human melanoma xenografts and with poor survival after radiation therapy in cervical cancer patients. Abnormalities in tumor vascular networks have been identified as an important cause of elevated tumor IFP. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between tumor IFP and the functional and morphological properties of tumor vascular networks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A-07-GFP and R-18-GFP human melanomas growing in dorsal window chambers in BALB/c nu/nu mice were used as preclinical tumor models. Functional and morphological parameters of the vascular network were assessed from first-pass imaging movies and vascular maps recorded after intravenous bolus injection of 155-kDa tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate-labeled dextran. IFP was measured in the center of the tumors using a Millar catheter. Angiogenic profiles of A-07-GFP and R-18-GFP cells were obtained with a quantitative PCR array. RESULTS: High IFP was associated with low growth rate and low vascular density in A-07-GFP tumors, and with high growth rate and high vascular density in R-18-GFP tumors. A-07-GFP tumors showed chaotic and highly disorganized vascular networks, while R-18-GFP tumors showed more organized vascular networks with supplying arterioles in the tumor center and draining venules in the tumor periphery. Furthermore, A-07-GFP and R-18-GFP cells differed substantially in angiogenic profiles. A-07-GFP tumors with high IFP showed high geometric resistance to blood flow due to high vessel tortuosity. R-18-GFP tumors with high IFP showed high geometric resistance to blood flow due to a large number of narrow tumor capillaries. CONCLUSIONS: High IFP in A-07-GFP and R-18-GFP human melanoma xenografts was primarily a consequence of high blood flow resistance caused by tumor-line specific vascular abnormalities
Pathologies in Asymptotically Lifshitz Spacetimes
There has been significant interest in the last several years in studying
possible gravitational duals, known as Lifshitz spacetimes, to anisotropically
scaling field theories by adding matter to distort the asymptotics of an AdS
spacetime. We point out that putative ground state for the most heavily studied
example of such a spacetime, that with a flat spatial section, suffers from a
naked singularity and further point out this singularity is not resolvable by
any known stringy effect. We review the reasons one might worry that
asymptotically Lifshitz spacetimes are unstable and employ the initial data
problem to study the stability of such systems. Rather surprisingly this
question, and even the initial value problem itself, for these spacetimes turns
out to generically not be well-posed. A generic normalizable state will evolve
in such a way to violate Lifshitz asymptotics in finite time. Conversely,
enforcing the desired asymptotics at all times puts strong restrictions not
just on the metric and fields in the asymptotic region but in the deep interior
as well. Generically, even perturbations of the matter field of compact support
are not compatible with the desired asymptotics.Comment: 36 pages, 1 figure, v2: Enhanced discussion of singularity, including
relationship to Gubser's conjecture and singularity in RG flow solution, plus
minor clarification
- …