OPE Convergence in Conformal Field Theory

We clarify questions related to the convergence of the OPE and conformal block decomposition in unitary Conformal Field Theories (for any number of spacetime dimensions). In particular, we explain why these expansions are convergent in a finite region. We also show that the convergence is exponentially fast, in the sense that the operators of dimension above Delta contribute to correlation functions at most exp(-a Delta). Here the constant a>0 depends on the positions of operator insertions and we compute it explicitly.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figures; v2: a clarifying note and two refs added; v3: note added concerning an extra constant factor in the main error estimate, misprint correcte

Effects of sex and menstrual cycle phase on cardiac response and alpha- amylase levels in psychosocial stress

The impact of sex and the menstrual cycle phase on the autonomic response to psychosocial stress remains controversial. This study explored autonomic nervous system activity through salivary alpha-amylase, heart rate, and heart rate variability responses to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) in healthy young people. The sample was composed of 25 men, 26 women in the luteal phase, and 25 women in the follicular phase, from 18 to 25 years of age. Participants were exposed to the TSST or a control condition. The results indicate that women in their follicular phase showed a blunted alpha-amylase response to stress compared to men and women in the luteal phase. In addition, men showed higher sympatho-vagal activity in the stress condition compared to the two groups of women. These results confirm that sex and the menstrual cycle phase are potential modulators of autonomic nervous system reactivity to psychosocial stress

CBM language measures as indicators of foreign-language learning: technical adequacy of scores for secondary-school students

Education and Child Studie

The use of nonrandomized evidence to estimate treatment effects in health technology assessment

Health technology assessment (HTA) is increasingly informed by non-randomised studies but there is limited guidance from HTA bodies on expectations around evidence quality and study conduct. We developed recommendations to support the appropriate use of such evidence based on a pragmatic literature review and a workshop involving 16 experts from 8 countries as part of the European Union’s Horizon-2020 IMPACT-HTA programme (work package 6). To ensure HTA processes remain rigorous and robust, HTA bodies should demand clear, extensive, and structured reporting of non-randomised studies, including an in-depth assessment of the risk of bias. In recognition of the additional uncertainty imparted by non-randomised designs in estimates of treatment effects, HTA bodies should strengthen early scientific advice and engage in collaborative efforts to improve use of real-world data

D3-D7 Quark-Gluon Plasmas at Finite Baryon Density

We present the string dual to SU(Nc) N=4 SYM, coupled to Nf massless fundamental flavors, at finite temperature and baryon density. The solution is determined by two dimensionless parameters, both depending on the 't Hooft coupling $\lambda_h$ at the scale set by the temperature T: $\epsilon_h\sim\lambda_h Nf/Nc$, weighting the backreaction of the flavor fields and $\tilde\delta\sim\lambda_h^{-1/2}nb/(Nf T^3)$, where $nb$ is the baryon density. For small values of these two parameters the solution is given analytically up to second order. We study the thermodynamics of the system in the canonical and grand-canonical ensembles. We then analyze the energy loss of partons moving through the plasma, computing the jet quenching parameter and studying its dependence on the baryon density. Finally, we analyze certain "optical" properties of the plasma. The whole setup is generalized to non abelian strongly coupled plasmas engineered on D3-D7 systems with D3-branes placed at the tip of a generic singular Calabi-Yau cone. In all the cases, fundamental matter fields are introduced by means of homogeneously smeared D7-branes and the flavor symmetry group is thus a product of abelian factors.Comment: 27 pages; v2: 29 pages, 1 (new) figure, new section 4.4 on optical properties, references, comments added; v3: eq. (3.19), comments and a reference adde

Holographic Duals of Quark Gluon Plasmas with Unquenched Flavors

We review the construction of gravitational solutions holographically dual to N=1 quiver gauge theories with dynamical flavor multiplets. We focus on the D3-D7 construction and consider the finite temperature, finite quark chemical potential case where there is a charged black hole in the dual solution. Discussed physical outputs of the model include its thermodynamics (with susceptibilities) and general hydrodynamic properties.Comment: Lecture presented at the Workshop "AdS/CFT and Novel Approaches to Hadron and Heavy Ion Physics", Kavli Institute of Theoretical Physics (KITPC), Beijing, China, 13 October 2010. Review article to be published in Communications in Theoretical Physics. 27 pages, 2 figure

Real-time registration of adverse events in Dutch hospitalized children in general pediatric units: first experiences

The objectives of this study are to describe the number and nature of adverse events occurring in general pediatric practice, to describe factors contributing to the occurrence of these adverse events, and to report on the experience of pediatricians with reporting adverse events. It is a prospective study on 11 pediatric units in a 3-month period; adverse events were registered for all newly admitted patients. Ninety-four adverse events were registered in 88 of 5,669 patients, amounting to a 1.6 per 100 admissions rate and a 0.4 per 100 patient days rate. Ninety percent of the adverse events did not cause serious harm. Failed diagnostic procedures were most common. Conclusion: Adverse event registration in general pediatric practice is a first step in assessing quality and safety of care. It yields a considerable number of adverse events. Compliance to adverse event registration in daily practice is difficult but also key to optimal monitoring of quality of care