459 research outputs found
Non Abelian BF theories with sources and 2-D gravity
We study the interaction of non-Abelian topological theories defined on
two dimensional manifolds with point sources carrying non-Abelian charges. We
identify the most general solution for the field equations on simply and
multiply connected two-manifolds. Taking the particular choice of the so-called
extended Poincar\'e group as the gauge group we discuss how recent discussions
of two dimensional gravity models do fit in this formalism.Comment: 20 pages, Latex, To appear in Phys Rev D5
Geomorphological and geochemical characterization of the 11 August 2008 mud volcano eruption at S. Barbara village (Sicily, Italy) and its possible relationship with seismic activity
On 11 August 2008 a paroxysmal eruption occurred at Santa Barbara mud volcano (MV), located close to Caltanissetta, one of the most densely populated cities of Sicily (Italy). An associated minor event took place on August 2009. Both the events caused severe damage to civil infrastructures located within a range of about 2 km from the eruptive vent. Geomorphological, geochemical, and seismological investigations were carried out for framing the events in the appropriate geodynamic context. Geomorphological surveys recognized, in the immediate surrounding of the main emission point, two different families of processes and landforms: (i) ground deformations and (ii) changes in morphology and number of the fluid emitting vents. These processes were associated to a wider network of fractures, seemingly generated by the shock wave produced by the gas blast that occurred at the main paroxysm. Geochemical characterization allowed an estimation of the source of the fluids, or at least their last standing, at about 3 km depth. Finally, the close time relationships observed between anomalous increments of seismic activity and the two main paroxysmal events accounted for a possible common trigger for both the phenomena, even with different timing due to the very different initial conditions and characteristics of the two processes, i.e. seismogenesis and gas overloading
Exact Quantum States for all Two-Dimensional Dilaton Gravity Theories
It is shown that the recently obtained quantum wave functionals in terms of
the CJZ variables for generic 2d dilaton gravity are equivalent to the
previously reported exact quantum wave functionals in geometrical variables. A
third representation of these exact quantum states is also presented
A WZW model based on a non-semi-simple group
We present a conformal field theory which desribes a homogeneous four
dimensional Lorentz-signature space-time. The model is an ungauged WZW model
based on a central extension of the Poincar\'e algebra. The central charge of
this theory is exactly four, just like four dimensional Minkowski space. The
model can be interpreted as a four dimensional monochromatic plane wave. As
there are three commuting isometries, other interesting geometries are expected
to emerge via duality.Comment: 8 pages, phyzzx, IASSNS-HEP-93/61 Texable versio
Geomorphological and geochemical characterization of the August 11, 2008 mud volcano eruption at S. Barbara village (Sicily, Italy) and its possible relationship with seismic activity
On August 11, 2008 a paroxysmal eruption occurred at Santa Barbara mud volcano (MV), located close to Caltanissetta, one of the most densely populated cities of Sicily (Italy). An associated minor event took place on August, 2009. Both the events caused severe damages to civil infrastructures located within a range of about 2 km from the eruptive vent. Geomorphological, geochemical and seismological investigations were carried out for framing the events in the appropriate geodynamic context. Geomorphological surveys recognized, in the immediate surrounding of the main emission point, two different families of processes and landforms: ground deformations and changes in morphology and number of the fluid emitting vents. These processes were associated to a wider network of fractures, seemingly generated by the shock wave produced by the gas blast occurred at the main paroxysm. Geochemical characterization allowed to estimate the source of the fluids, or at least their last standing, at about 3 km depth. Finally, the close time relationships observed between anomalous increments of seismic activity and the two main paroxysmal events, accounted for a common possible trigger for both the phenomena, even if with a different timing due to the very different initial conditions and characteristics of the two processes, i.e. seismogenesis and gas overloading
On the QED Effective Action in Time Dependent Electric Backgrounds
We apply the resolvent technique to the computation of the QED effective
action in time dependent electric field backgrounds. The effective action has
both real and imaginary parts, and the imaginary part is related to the pair
production probability in such a background. The resolvent technique has been
applied previously to spatially inhomogeneous magnetic backgrounds, for which
the effective action is real. We explain how dispersion relations connect these
two cases, the magnetic case which is essentially perturbative in nature, and
the electric case where the imaginary part is nonperturbative. Finally, we use
a uniform semiclassical approximation to find an expression for very general
time dependence for the background field. This expression is remarkably similar
in form to Schwinger's classic result for the constant electric background.Comment: 27 pages, no figures; reference adde
Speech Prosody as a Bridge Between Psychopathology and Linguistics: The Case of the Schizophrenia Spectrum
Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders experience severe difficulties in interpersonal communication, as described by traditional psychopathology and current research on social cognition. From a linguistic perspective, pragmatic abilities are crucial for successful communication. Empirical studies have shown that these abilities are significantly impaired in this group of patients. Prosody, the tone of voice with which words and sentences are pronounced, is one of the most important carriers of pragmatic meaning and can serve a range of functions from linguistic to emotional ones. Most of the existing literature on prosody of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders focuses on the expression of emotion, generally showing significant impairments. By contrast, the use of non-emotional prosody in these patients is scarcely investigated. In this paper, we first present a linguistic model to classify prosodic functions. Second, we discuss existing studies on the use of non-emotional prosody in these patients, providing an overview of the state of the art. Third, we delineate possible future lines of research in this field, also taking into account some classical psychopathological assumptions, for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
Quantum gravity effects in the CGHS model of collapse to a black hole
We show that only a sector of the classical solution space of the CGHS model
describes formation of black holes through collapse of matter. This sector has
either right or left moving matter. We describe the sector which has left
moving matter in canonical language. In the nonperturbative quantum theory all
operators are expressed in terms of the matter field operator which is
represented on a Fock space. We discuss existence of large quantum fluctuations
of the metric operator when the matter field is approximately classical. We end
with some comments which may pertain to Hawking radiation in the context of the
model.Comment: Latex, 26 pages, 1 figure, to appear in Phy. Rev. D (15
Beyond oncological hyperthermia: Physically drivable magnetic nanobubbles as novel multipurpose theranostic carriers in the central nervous system
Magnetic Oxygen-Loaded Nanobubbles (MOLNBs), manufactured by adding Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) on the surface of polymeric nanobubbles, are investigated as theranostic carriers for delivering oxygen and chemotherapy to brain tumors. Physicochemical and cyto-toxicological properties and in vitro internalization by human brain microvascular endothelial cells as well as the motion of MOLNBs in a static magnetic field were investigated. MOLNBs are safe oxygen-loaded vectors able to overcome the brain membranes and drivable through the Central Nervous System (CNS) to deliver their cargoes to specific sites of interest. In addition, MOLNBs are monitorable either via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Ultrasound (US) sonography. MOLNBs can find application in targeting brain tumors since they can enhance conventional radiotherapy and deliver chemotherapy being driven by ad hoc tailored magnetic fields under MRI and/or US monitoring
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