61 research outputs found
Renormalization as a functor on bialgebras
The Hopf algebra of renormalization in quantum field theory is described at a
general level. The products of fields at a point are assumed to form a
bialgebra B and renormalization endows T(T(B)^+), the double tensor algebra of
B, with the structure of a noncommutative bialgebra. When the bialgebra B is
commutative, renormalization turns S(S(B)^+), the double symmetric algebra of
B, into a commutative bialgebra. The usual Hopf algebra of renormalization is
recovered when the elements of B are not renormalised, i.e. when Feynman
diagrams containing one single vertex are not renormalised. When B is the Hopf
algebra of a commutative group, a homomorphism is established between the
bialgebra S(S(B)^+) and the Faa di Bruno bialgebra of composition of series.
The relation with the Connes-Moscovici Hopf algebra of diffeomorphisms is
given. Finally, the bialgebra S(S(B)^+) is shown to give the same results as
the standard renormalisation procedure for the scalar field.Comment: 24 pages, no figure. Several changes in the connection with standard
renormalizatio
On the Relationship between Yang-Mills Theory and Gravity and its Implication for Ultraviolet Divergences
String theory implies that field theories containing gravity are in a certain
sense `products' of gauge theories. We make this product structure explicit up
to two loops for the relatively simple case of N=8 supergravity four-point
amplitudes, demonstrating that they are `squares' of N=4 super-Yang-Mills
amplitudes. This is accomplished by obtaining an explicit expression for the
-dimensional two-loop contribution to the four-particle S-matrix for N=8
supergravity, which we compare to the corresponding N=4 Yang-Mills result. From
these expressions we also obtain the two-loop ultraviolet divergences in
dimensions D=7 through D=11. The analysis relies on the unitarity cuts of the
two theories, many of which can be recycled from a one-loop computation. The
two-particle cuts, which may be iterated to all loop orders, suggest that
squaring relations between the two theories exist at any loop order. The
loop-momentum power-counting implied by our two-particle cut analysis indicates
that in four dimensions the first four-point divergence in N=8 supergravity
should appear at five loops, contrary to the earlier expectation, based on
superspace arguments, of a three-loop counterterm.Comment: Latex, 52 pages, discussion of 2 loop divergences in D=8,10 adde
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Oral Prevalence in Scotland (HOPSCOTCH):a feasibility study in dental settings
The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of undertaking a full population investigation into the prevalence, incidence, and persistence of oral Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in Scotland via dental settings. Male and female patients aged 16-69 years were recruited by Research Nurses in 3 primary care and dental outreach teaching centres and 2 General Dental Practices (GDPs), and by Dental Care Teams in 2 further GDPs. Participants completed a questionnaire (via an online tablet computer or paper) with socioeconomic, lifestyle, and sexual history items; and were followed up at 6-months for further questionnaire through appointment or post/online. Saline oral gargle/rinse samples, collected at baseline and follow-up, were subject to molecular HPV genotyping centrally. 1213 dental patients were approached and 402 individuals consented (participation rate 33.1%). 390 completed the baseline questionnaire and 380 provided a baseline oral specimen. Follow-up rate was 61.6% at 6 months. While recruitment was no different in Research Nurse vs Dental Care Team models the Nurse model ensured more rapid recruitment. There were relatively few missing responses in the questionnaire and high levels of disclosure of risk behaviours (99% answered some of the sexual history questions). Data linkage of participant data to routine health records including HPV vaccination data was successful with 99.1% matching. Oral rinse/gargle sample collection and subsequent HPV testing was feasible. Preliminary analyses found over 95% of samples to be valid for molecular HPV detection prevalence of oral HPV infection of 5.5% (95%CI 3.7, 8.3). It is feasible to recruit and follow-up dental patients largely representative / reflective of the wider population, suggesting it would be possible to undertake a study to investigate the prevalence, incidence, and determinants of oral HPV infection in dental settings
Massive Loop Amplitudes from Unitarity
We show, for previously uncalculated examples containing a uniform mass in
the loop, that it is possible to obtain complete massive one-loop gauge theory
amplitudes solely from unitarity and known ultraviolet or infrared mass
singularities. In particular, we calculate four-gluon scattering via massive
quark loops in QCD. The contribution of a heavy quark to five-gluon scattering
with identical helicities is also presented.Comment: Minor modifications, 27 pages including two figure
Human papillomavirus serologic follow-up response and relationship to survival in head and neck cancer: a case-comparison study
The impact of circulating preeclampsia-associated extracellular vesicles on the migratory activity and phenotype of THP-1 monocytic cells
Intercellular communication via extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their target cells, especially immune cells, results in functional and phenotype changes that consequently may play a significant role in various physiological states and the pathogenesis of immune-mediated disorders. Monocytes are the most prominent environment-sensing immune cells in circulation, skilled to shape their microenvironments via cytokine secretion and further differentiation. Both the circulating monocyte subset distribution and the blood plasma EV pattern are characteristic for preeclampsia, a pregnancy induced immune-mediated hypertensive disorder. We hypothesized that preeclampsia-associated EVs (PE-EVs) induced functional and phenotypic alterations of monocytes. First, we proved EV binding and uptake by THP-1 cells. Cellular origin and protein cargo of circulating PE-EVs were characterized by flow cytometry and mass spectrometry. An altered phagocytosis-associated molecular pattern was found on 12.5 K fraction of PE-EVs: an elevated CD47 "don't eat me" signal (p < 0.01) and decreased exofacial phosphatidylserine "eat-me" signal (p < 0.001) were found along with decreased uptake of these PE-EVs (p < 0.05). The 12.5 K fraction of PE-EVs induced significantly lower chemotaxis (p < 0.01) and cell motility but accelerated cell adhesion of THP-1 cells (p < 0.05). The 12.5 K fraction of PE-EVs induced altered monocyte functions suggest that circulating EVs may have a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia
Spin Foam Models for Quantum Gravity
In this article we review the present status of the spin foam formulation of
non-perturbative (background independent) quantum gravity. The article is
divided in two parts. In the first part we present a general introduction to
the main ideas emphasizing their motivations from various perspectives.
Riemannian 3-dimensional gravity is used as a simple example to illustrate
conceptual issues and the main goals of the approach. The main features of the
various existing models for 4-dimensional gravity are also presented here. We
conclude with a discussion of important questions to be addressed in four
dimensions (gauge invariance, discretization independence, etc.).
In the second part we concentrate on the definition of the Barrett-Crane
model. We present the main results obtained in this framework from a critical
perspective. Finally we review the combinatorial formulation of spin foam
models based on the dual group field theory technology. We present the
Barrett-Crane model in this framework and review the finiteness results
obtained for both its Riemannian as well as its Lorentzian variants.Comment: Topical review, to appear in CQG. Typos corrected and new references
adde
Hydrogen bond networks determine emergent mechanical and thermodynamic properties across a protein family
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gram-negative bacteria use periplasmic-binding proteins (bPBP) to transport nutrients through the periplasm. Despite immense diversity within the recognized substrates, all members of the family share a common fold that includes two domains that are separated by a conserved hinge. The hinge allows the protein to cycle between open (apo) and closed (ligated) conformations. Conformational changes within the proteins depend on a complex interplay of mechanical and thermodynamic response, which is manifested as an increase in thermal stability and decrease of flexibility upon ligand binding.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We use a distance constraint model (DCM) to quantify the give and take between thermodynamic stability and mechanical flexibility across the bPBP family. Quantitative stability/flexibility relationships (QSFR) are readily evaluated because the DCM links mechanical and thermodynamic properties. We have previously demonstrated that QSFR is moderately conserved across a mesophilic/thermophilic RNase H pair, whereas the observed variance indicated that different enthalpy-entropy mechanisms allow similar mechanical response at their respective melting temperatures. Our predictions of heat capacity and free energy show marked diversity across the bPBP family. While backbone flexibility metrics are mostly conserved, cooperativity correlation (long-range couplings) also demonstrate considerable amount of variation. Upon ligand removal, heat capacity, melting point, and mechanical rigidity are, as expected, lowered. Nevertheless, significant differences are found in molecular cooperativity correlations that can be explained by the detailed nature of the hydrogen bond network.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Non-trivial mechanical and thermodynamic variation across the family is explained by differences within the underlying H-bond networks. The mechanism is simple; variation within the H-bond networks result in altered mechanical linkage properties that directly affect intrinsic flexibility. Moreover, varying numbers of H-bonds and their strengths control the likelihood for energetic fluctuations as H-bonds break and reform, thus directly affecting thermodynamic properties. Consequently, these results demonstrate how unexpected large differences, especially within cooperativity correlation, emerge from subtle differences within the underlying H-bond network. This inference is consistent with well-known results that show allosteric response within a family generally varies significantly. Identifying the hydrogen bond network as a critical determining factor for these large variances may lead to new methods that can predict such effects.</p
Production of functional, stable, unmutated recombinant human papillomavirus E6 oncoprotein: implications for HPV-tumor diagnosis and therapy
- …