181 research outputs found
Tilings, Chern-Simons Theories and M2 Branes
A new infinite class of Chern-Simons theories is presented using brane
tilings. The new class reproduces all known cases so far and introduces many
new models that are dual to M2 brane theories which probe a toric non-compact
CY 4-fold. The master space of the quiver theory is used as a tool to construct
the moduli space for this class and the Hilbert Series is computed for a
selected set of examples.Comment: 23 pages, minor changes, references adde
Isometric Embedding of BPS Branes in Flat Spaces with Two Times
We show how non-near horizon p-brane theories can be obtained from two
embedding constraints in a flat higher dimensional space with 2 time
directions. In particular this includes the construction of D3 branes from a
flat 12-dimensional action, and M2 and M5 branes from 13 dimensions. The
worldvolume actions are determined by constant forms in the higher dimension,
reduced to the usual expressions by Lagrange multipliers. The formulation
affords insight in the global aspects of the spacetime geometries and makes
contact with recent work on two-time physics.Comment: 29 pages, 10 figures, Latex using epsf.sty and here.sty; v2:
reference added and some small correction
Two-Photon, Two-gluon and Radiative Decays of Heavy Flavoured Mesons
Here we present the two-photon and two-gluon decay widths of the S-wave
() and P-wave () charmonium and bottonium
states and the radiative transition decay widths of , and
systems based on Coulomb plus power form of the inter-quark potential
() with exponent . The Schrdinger equation is solved
numerically for different choices of the exponent . We employ the masses
of different states and their radial wave functions obtained from the study to
compute the two-photon and two-gluon decay widths and the E1 and M1 radiative
transitions. It is found that the quarkonia mass spectra and the E1 transition
can be described by the same interquark model potential of the with
for and for systems, while the M1
transition (at which the spin of the system changes) and the decay rates in the
annihilation channel of quarkonia are better estimated by a shallow potential
with .Comment: 27 Pages, 8 figure
Non-extremal Localised Branes and Vacuum Solutions in M-Theory
Non-extremal overlapping p-brane supergravity solutions localised in their
relative transverse coordinates are constructed. The construction uses an
algebraic method of solving the bosonic equations of motion. It is shown that
these non-extremal solutions can be obtained from the extremal solutions by
means of the superposition of two deformation functions defined by vacuum
solutions of M-theory. Vacuum solutions of M-theory including irrational powers
of harmonic functions are discussed.Comment: LaTeX, 16 pages, no figures, typos correcte
Blockade of hemichannels normalizes the differentiation fate of myoblasts and features of skeletal muscles from dysferlin-deficient mice
Indexación: Scopus.Dysferlinopathies are muscle dystrophies caused by mutations in the gene encoding dysferlin, a relevant protein for membrane repair and trafficking. These diseases are untreatable, possibly due to the poor knowledge of relevant molecular targets. Previously, we have shown that human myofibers from patient biopsies as well as myotubes derived from immortalized human myoblasts carrying a mutated form of dysferlin express connexin proteins, but their relevance in myoblasts fate and function remained unknown. In the present work, we found that numerous myoblasts bearing a mutated dysferlin when induced to acquire myogenic commitment express PPARγ, revealing adipogenic instead of myogenic commitment. These cell cultures presented many mononucleated cells with fat accumulation and within 48 h of differentiation formed fewer multinucleated cells. In contrast, dysferlin deficient myoblasts treated with boldine, a connexin hemichannels blocker, neither expressed PPARγ, nor accumulated fat and formed similar amount of multinucleated cells as wild type precursor cells. We recently demonstrated that myofibers of skeletal muscles from blAJ mice (an animal model of dysferlinopathies) express three connexins (Cx39, Cx43, and Cx45) that form functional hemichannels (HCs) in the sarcolemma. In symptomatic blAJ mice, we now show that eight-week treatment with a daily dose of boldine showed a progressive recovery of motor activity reaching normality. At the end of this treatment, skeletal muscles were comparable to those of wild type mice and presented normal CK activity in serum. Myofibers of boldine-treated blAJ mice also showed strong dysferlin-like immunoreactivity. These findings reveal that muscle dysfunction results from a pathophysiologic mechanism triggered by mutated dysferlin and downstream connexin hemichannels expressed de novo lead to a drastic reduction of myogenesis and favor muscle damage. Thus, boldine could represent a therapeutic opportunity to treat dysfernilopathies. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/17/602
Vortices, Instantons and Branes
The purpose of this paper is to describe a relationship between the moduli
space of vortices and the moduli space of instantons. We study charge k
vortices in U(N) Yang-Mills-Higgs theories and show that the moduli space is
isomorphic to a special Lagrangian submanifold of the moduli space of k
instantons in non-commutative U(N) Yang-Mills theories. This submanifold is the
fixed point set of a U(1) action on the instanton moduli space which rotates
the instantons in a plane. To derive this relationship, we present a D-brane
construction in which the dynamics of vortices is described by the Higgs branch
of a U(k) gauge theory with 4 supercharges which is a truncation of the
familiar ADHM gauge theory. We further describe a moduli space construction for
semi-local vortices, lumps in the CP(N) and Grassmannian sigma-models, and
vortices on the non-commutative plane. We argue that this relationship between
vortices and instantons underlies many of the quantitative similarities shared
by quantum field theories in two and four dimensions.Comment: 32 Pages, 4 Figure
Sigma-model for Generalized Composite p-branes
A multidimensional gravitational model containing several dilatonic scalar
fields and antisymmetric forms is considered. The manifold is chosen in the
form M = M_0 x M_1 x ... x M_n, where M_i are Einstein spaces (i > 0). The
block-diagonal metric is chosen and all fields and scale factors of the metric
are functions on M_0. For the forms composite (electro-magnetic) p-brane ansatz
is adopted. The model is reduced to gravitating self-interacting sigma-model
with certain constraints. In pure electric and magnetic cases the number of
these constraints is m(m - 1)/2 where m is number of 1-dimensional manifolds
among M_i. In the "electro-magnetic" case for dim M_0 = 1, 3 additional m
constraints appear. A family of "Majumdar-Papapetrou type" solutions governed
by a set of harmonic functions is obtained, when all factor-spaces M_k are
Ricci-flat. These solutions are generalized to the case of non-Ricci-flat M_0
when also some additional "internal" Einstein spaces of non-zero curvature are
added to M. As an example exact solutions for D = 11 supergravity and related
12-dimensional theory are presented.Comment: 33 pages, Latex. Some corrections and rearrangements are mad
Surgical outcomes of gallbladder cancer:the OMEGA retrospective, multicentre, international cohort study
Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is rare but aggressive. The extent of surgical intervention for different GBC stages is non-uniform, ranging from cholecystectomy alone to extended resections including major hepatectomy, resection of adjacent organs and routine extrahepatic bile duct resection (EBDR). Robust evidence here is lacking, however, and survival benefit poorly defined. This study assesses factors associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS) and morbidity and mortality following GBC surgery in high income countries (HIC) and low and middle income countries (LMIC). Methods: The multicentre, retrospective Operative Management of Gallbladder Cancer (OMEGA) cohort study included all patients who underwent GBC resection across 133 centres between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2020. Regression analyses assessed factors associated with OS, RFS and morbidity. Findings: On multivariable analysis of all 3676 patients, wedge resection and segment IVb/V resection failed to improve RFS (HR 1.04 [0.84–1.29], p = 0.711 and HR 1.18 [0.95–1.46], p = 0.13 respectively) or OS (HR 0.96 [0.79–1.17], p = 0.67 and HR 1.48 [1.16–1.88], p = 0.49 respectively), while major hepatectomy was associated with worse RFS (HR 1.33 [1.02–1.74], p = 0.037) and OS (HR 1.26 [1.03–1.53], p = 0.022). Furthermore, EBDR (OR 2.86 [2.3–3.52], p < 0.0010), resection of additional organs (OR 2.22 [1.62–3.02], p < 0.0010) and major hepatectomy (OR 3.81 [2.55–5.73], p < 0.0010) were all associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Compared to LMIC, patients in HIC were associated with poorer RFS (HR 1.18 [1.02–1.37], p = 0.031) but not OS (HR 1.05 [0.91–1.22], p = 0.48). Adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments were infrequently used. Interpretation: In this large, multicentre analysis of GBC surgical outcomes, liver resection was not conclusively associated with improved survival, and extended resections were associated with greater morbidity and mortality without oncological benefit. Aggressive upfront resections do not benefit higher stage GBC, and international collaborations are needed to develop evidence-based neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment strategies to minimise surgical morbidity and prioritise prognostic benefit. Funding:Cambridge Hepatopancreatobiliary Department Research Fund.</p
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