5,877 research outputs found
Multiple Reentrant Phase Transitions and Triple Points in Lovelock Thermodynamics
We investigate the effects of higher curvature corrections from Lovelock
gravity on the phase structure of asymptotically AdS black holes, treating the
cosmological constant as a thermodynamic pressure. We examine how various
thermodynamic phenomena, such as Van der Waals behaviour, reentrant phase
transitions (RPT), and tricritical points are manifest for U(1) charged black
holes in Gauss-Bonnet and 3rd-order Lovelock gravities. We furthermore observe
a new phenomenon of "multiple RPT" behaviour, in which for fixed pressure the
small/large/small/large black hole phase transition occurs as the temperature
of the system increases. We also find that when the higher-order Lovelock
couplings are related in a particular way, a peculiar isolated critical point
emerges for hyperbolic black holes and is characterized by non-standard
critical exponents.Comment: 50 pages, 28 Figures v2: minor corrections, references adde
Gauge/Gravity Duality and Some Applications
We discuss the AdS/CFT correspondence in which space-time emerges from an
interacting theory of D-branes and open strings. These ideas have a historical
continuity with QCD which is an interacting theory of quarks and gluons. In
particular we review the classic case of D3 branes and the non-conformal D1
brane system. We outline by some illustrative examples the calculations that
are enabled in a strongly coupled gauge theory by correspondence with dynamical
horizons in semi-classical gravity in one higher dimension. We also discuss
implications of the gauge-fluid/gravity correspondence for the information
paradox of black hole physics.Comment: 19 pages, 2 figures, Contribution to "Conference in Honor of Murray
Gell-Mann's 80th Birthday
Generalized entropy and Noether charge
We find an expression for the generalized gravitational entropy of Hawking in
terms of Noether charge. As an example, the entropy of the Taub-Bolt spacetime
is calculated.Comment: 6 pages, revtex, reference correcte
Targeting tauopathy with engineered tau-degrading intrabodies
BACKGROUND: The accumulation of pathological tau is the main component of neurofibrillary tangles and other tau aggregates in several neurodegenerative diseases, referred to as tauopathies. Recently, immunotherapeutic approaches targeting tau have been demonstrated to be beneficial in decreasing tauopathy in animal models. We previously found that passive immunotherapy with anti-tau antibody to human tau or expression of an anti-tau secreted single-chain variable fragment (scFv) in the central nervous system of a mouse model of tauopathy decreased but did not remove all tau-associated pathology. Although these and other studies demonstrate that conventional immunotherapeutic approaches targeting tau can influence tau pathogenesis, the majority of pathological tau remains in the cytosol of cells, not typically accessible to an extracellular antibody. Therefore, we reasoned targeting intracellular tau might be more efficacious in preventing or decreasing tauopathy.
METHODS: By utilizing our anti-tau scFv, we generated anti-tau intrabodies for the expression in the cytosol of neurons. To enhance the degradation capacity of conventional intrabodies, we engineered chimeric anti-tau intrabodies fused to ubiquitin harboring distinct mutations that shuttle intracellular tau for either the proteasome or lysosomal mediated degradation. To evaluate the efficacy in delaying or eliminating tauopathy, we expressed our tau degrading intrabodies or controls in human tau transgenic mice by adeno-associated virus prior to overt tau pathology and after tau deposition.
RESULTS: Our results demonstrate, the expression of chimeric anti-tau intrabodies significantly reduce tau protein levels in primary neuronal cultures expression human tau relative to a non-modified anti-tau intrabody. We found the expression of engineered tau-degrading intrabodies destined for proteasomal-mediated degradation are more effective in delaying or eliminating tauopathy than a conventional intrabody in aged human tau transgenic mice.
CONCLUSION: This study, harnesses the strength of intrabodies that are amendable for targeting specific domains or modifications with the cell-intrinsic mechanisms that regulate protein degradation providing a new immunotherapeutic approach with potentially improved efficacy
Novel Bio-Logging Tool for Studying Fine-Scale Behaviors of Marine Turtles in Response to Sound
Increases in the spatial scale and intensity of activities that produce marine anthropogenic sound highlight the importance of understanding the impacts and effects of sound on threatened species such as marine turtles. Marine turtles detect and behaviorally respond to low-frequency sounds, however few studies have directly examined their behavioral responses to specific types or intensities of anthropogenic or natural sounds. Recent advances in the development of bio-logging tools, which combine acoustic and fine-scale movement measurements, have allowed for evaluations of animal responses to sound. Here, we describe these tools and present a case study demonstrating the potential application of a newly developed technology (ROTAG, Loggerhead Instruments, Inc.) to examine behavioral responses of freely swimming marine turtles to sound. The ROTAG incorporates a three-axis accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer to record the turtle\u27s pitch, roll, and heading; a pressure sensor to record turtle depth; a hydrophone to record the turtle\u27s received underwater acoustic sound field; a temperature gauge; and two VHF radio telemetry transmitters and antennas for tag and turtle tracking. Tags can be programmed to automatically release via a timed corrodible link several hours or days after deployment. We describe an example of the data collected with these tags and present a case study of a successful ROTAG deployment on a juvenile green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the Paranaguá Estuary Complex, Brazil. The tag was deployed for 221 min, during which several vessels passed closely (\u3c2 km) by the turtle. The concurrent movement and acoustic data collected by the ROTAG were examined during these times to determine if the turtle responded to these anthropogenic sound sources. While fine-scale behavioral responses were not apparent (second-by-second), the turtle did appear to perform dives during which it remained still on or near the sea floor during several of the vessel passes. This case study provides proof of concept that ROTAGs can successfully be applied to free-ranging marine turtles to examine their behavioral response to sound. Finally, we discuss the broad applications that these tools have to study the fine-scale behaviors of marine turtles and highlight their use to aid in marine turtle conservation and management
Environment as a Witness: Selective Proliferation of Information and Emergence of Objectivity in a Quantum Universe
We study the role of the information deposited in the environment of an open
quantum system in course of the decoherence process. Redundant spreading of
information -- the fact that some observables of the system can be
independently ``read-off'' from many distinct fragments of the environment --
is investigated as the key to effective objectivity, the essential ingredient
of ``classical reality''. This focus on the environment as a communication
channel through which observers learn about physical systems underscores
importance of quantum Darwinism -- selective proliferation of information about
``the fittest states'' chosen by the dynamics of decoherence at the expense of
their superpositions -- as redundancy imposes the existence of preferred
observables. We demonstrate that the only observables that can leave multiple
imprints in the environment are the familiar pointer observables singled out by
environment-induced superselection (einselection) for their predictability.
Many independent observers monitoring the environment will therefore agree on
properties of the system as they can only learn about preferred observables. In
this operational sense, the selective spreading of information leads to
appearance of an objective ``classical reality'' from within quantum substrate.Comment: New figures, to appear in PR
Maryland Chartbook of Minority Health And Minority Health Disparities Data With Sections on Gender-specific Health And Jurisdiction-specific Health
The Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (MHHD) was established in the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in 2004 by legislation passed in the Maryland General Assembly session of that same year. One of the charges to MHHD is the compilation and distribution of minority health and health disparities data. This Chartbook is one response to that charge. Adequate and accurate data are essential to any effort to identify and address health problems in general, and health disparities in particular. With regard to health disparities, whether defined by ethnicity/race or other factors (geography, gender, income, education, etc.), data are required to complete three essential tasks: 1. Identify and measure disparities 2. Determine the causes of the disparity and plan interventions 3. Track progress toward eliminating health disparities The compilation of Maryland health disparities data in this Chartbook is intended to enable each of these three critical functions.https://health.maryland.gov/hd/mdchartbook.ht
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