Consistent truncations to 3-dimensional supergravity

We show how to construct consistent truncations of 10-/11-dimensional supergravity to 3-dimensional gauged supergravity, preserving various amounts of supersymmetry. We show, that as in higher dimensions, consistent truncations can be defined in terms of generalised $G$-structures in Exceptional Field Theory, with $G \subset E_{8(8)}$ for the 3-dimensional case. Differently from higher dimensions, the generalised Lie derivative of $E_{8(8)}$ Exceptional Field Theory requires a set of "covariantly constrained" fields to be well-defined, and we show how these can be constructed from the $G$-structure itself. We prove several general features of consistent truncations, allowing us to rule out a higher-dimensional origin of many 3-dimensional gauged supergravities. In particular, we show that the compact part of the gauge group can be at most $\mathrm{SO}(9)$ and that there are no consistent truncations on a 7-or 8-dimensional product of spheres such that the full isometry group of the spheres is gauged. Moreover, we classify which matter-coupled ${\cal N} \geq 4$ gauged supergravities can arise from consistent truncations. Finally, we give several examples of consistent truncations to three dimensions. These include the truncations of IIA and IIB supergravity on $S^7$ leading to two different ${\cal N}=16$ gauged supergravites, as well as more general IIA/IIB truncations on $H^{p,7-p}$. We also show how to construct consistent truncations on compactifications of IIB supergravity on $S^5$ fibred over a Riemann surface. These result in 3-dimensional ${\cal N}=4$ gauged supergravities with scalar manifold ${\cal M} = \frac{\mathrm{SO}(6,4)}{\mathrm{SO}(6) \times \mathrm{SO}(4)} \times \frac{\mathrm{SU}(2,1)}{\mathrm{S}(\mathrm{U}(2)\times\mathrm{U}(1))}$ with a $\mathrm{ISO}(3)\times\mathrm{U}(1)^4$ gauging and for hyperboloidal Riemann surfaces contain ${\cal N}=(2,2)$ AdS$_3$ vacua.Comment: 33 pages plus appendi

Adding fluxes to consistent truncations: IIB supergravity on AdS3×S3×S3×S1{\rm AdS}_3 \times S^3 \times S^3 \times S^1

We use $E_{8(8)}$ Exceptional Field Theory to construct the consistent truncation of IIB supergravity on $S^3 \times S^3 \times S^1$ to maximal 3-dimensional ${\cal N}=16$ gauged supergravity containing the ${\cal N}=(4,4)$ AdS$_3$ vacuum. We explain how to achieve this by adding a 7-form flux to the $S^1$ reduction of the dyonic $E_{7(7)}$ truncation on $S^3 \times S^3$ previously constructed in the literature. Our truncation Ansatz includes, in addition to the ${\cal N}=(4,4)$ vacuum, a host of moduli breaking some or all of the supersymmetries. We explicitly construct the uplift of a subset of these to construct new supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric AdS$_3$ vacua of IIB string theory, which include a range of perturbatively stable non-supersymmetric 10-d vacua. Moreover, we show how the supersymmetric direction of the moduli space of AdS$_3$ vacua of six-dimensional gauged supergravity studied in arXiv:2111.01167 is compactified upon lifting to 10 dimensions, and find evidence of T-duality playing a role in global aspects of the moduli space. Along the way, we also derive the form of 3-dimensional ${\cal N}=16$ gauged supergravity in terms of the embedding tensor and rule out a 10-/11-dimensional origin of some 3-dimensional gauged supergravities.Comment: 31 page

Synthesis of liquid crystalline graft and block copolymers by sequential cationic and free-radical polymerizations

Abstraet-New graft and block copolymers were synthesized by two procedures, each consisting of a sequence of cationic and free-radical polymerization reactions. One polymer component was a liquid crystalline side-group polymer, with the other polymer component being incorporated in crystalline grafts or in amorphous blocks. The copolymers were microphase-separated and underwent thermal transitions (glass, melting, isotropization) of each individual component

Intracoronary electrocardiogram ST segment shift evaluation during intravenous adenosine infusion: A comparison with fractional flow reserve

Background: By measuring the pressure decline caused by coronary narrowing, fractional flow reserve (FFR) is an index of the physiological significance of a vessel stenosis. Intracoronary electrocardiogram (IC-ECG) recording from an angioplasty guidewire is more sensitive than standard ECG in detecting regional myocardial ischemia. The aim of the study was to assess if unipolar IC-ECG ST segment recording from angioplasty guidewire during maximal pharmacologic vasodilation could be used as an indirect estimation of FFR results. Methods: Forty-eight clinically stable patients with intermediate stenosis underwent FFR evaluation and IC-ECG recording during intravenous adenosine infusion. Results: FFR values were &#8804; 0.80 in 26 (54%) patients and > 0.80 in 22 (46%). After adenosine, standard ECG was abnormal in only nine (19%) patients, while IC-ECG showed a significant ST segment shift (IST) in 24 (50%) patients: ST elevation in 19 patients and depression in five). IST was documented in 21/26 patients with FFR &#8804; 0.80 (81%) and in 3/22 with FFR > 0.80 (p < 0.001). Sensitivity of IST for predicting an abnormal FFR value was 81%, specificity 86%, positive and negative predictive accuracies were 88% and 79%, respectively. Conclusions: Intracoronary ST segment shift evaluation during adenosine infusion may be of value in assessing the functional significance of a borderline stenosis. The presence of IST during adenosine infusion could obviate the need for additional FFR evaluation. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 6: 662&#8211;667

Performance of V3-based HIV-1 sero subtyping in HIV endemic areas

HIV-1 serosubtyping based on reactivity to peptides from the V3 region of gp120 is a low-cost and easy to perform procedure often used in geographical areas with high prevalence and incidence of HIV infection. We evaluated the performance of V3-based serotyping on 148 sera from 118 HIV-1-infected individuals living in Uganda, with estimated dates of seroconversion. Of the 148 tested samples, 68 (46.0%) specifically reacted with only one of the V3 peptides included in the test (SP), 64 (43.2%) did not react with any peptide (NR) and 16 (10.8%) reacted with two or more peptides (CR). According to the estimated seroconversion date, the large majority of samples collected early after infection belonged to the NR group. These samples had also a low Avidity Index. In contrast, samples collected later after infection belonged mainly to CR and SP groups and had also a higher avidity index. These results indicate that the performance of V3-based assays depends on maturation of HIV-specific immune response and can be significantly lowered when these tests are carried out on specimens collected from recently infected individuals

Technetium-99m sestamibi tomographic evaluation of residual ischemia after anterior myocardial infarction

Objectives.This study investigated the value of sestamibi scintigraphy in assessing residual ischemia after anterior myocardial infarction.Background.Serial imaging with sestamibi, the uptake and retention of which correlate with regional myocardial blood flow and viability, has been used to estimate salvaged myocardium and risk area after acute infarction. We recently documented that recovery of perfusion and contraction in the infarcted area may continue well after the subacute phase, suggesting myocardial hibernation. Some underestimation of viability in the setting of hibernating myocardium by sestamibi imaging has been reported.Methods.We studied 58 patients in stable condition after Q wave anterior infarction. Regional perfusion and function were quantitatively assessed by sestamibi tomography and two-dimensional echocardiography at 4 to 6 weeks and at 7 months after infarction. In sestamibi polar maps, abnormal areas with tracer uptake >2.5 SD below our reference values were computed at rest and after symptom-limited exercise. On two-dimensional echocardiography the ejection fraction and extent of rest wall motion abnormalities were assessed by a computerized system. All patients had coronary angiography between the two studies.Results.At 7 months the extent of rest sestamibi defect was significantly reduced in 40 patients (69%, group 1) and unchanged in 18 (31%, group 2). Rest wall motion abnormalities and ventricular ejection fraction significantly improved in group 1 but not in group 2. Underlying coronary disease, patency of the infarct-related vessel and rest sestamibi defect extent at 5 weeks were comparable between the two groups. At 7 months, an increase in the reversible (stress-rest defect) tracer defect was observed in group 1 (p < 0.05) despite a smaller stress-induced hypoperfusion (p < 0.05). Reversible sestamibi defects and stress hypoperfusion were unchanged in group 2. In 38 (95%) of 40 group 1 patients, the area showing reversible sestamibi defects at 7 months matched the area showing fixed hypoperfusion at 5 weeks.Conclusions.The reduction in the rest tracer uptake defect that can occur late after infarction may affect the assessment of ischemic burden by sestamibi imaging early after anterior myocardial infarction

Intracoronary ST-Segment Shift Soon After Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Accurately Predicts Periprocedural Myocardial Injury

Background— Elevation of cardiac biomarkers after coronary angioplasty (percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]) reflects periprocedural myocardial damage and is associated with adverse cardiac events. We assessed whether periprocedural myocardial damage that occurs despite successful PCI could be rapidly and easily identified by intracoronary ST-segment recording with the use of a catheter guidewire. Methods and Results— In 108 consecutive stable patients undergoing elective single-vessel PCI, we recorded unipolar ECG from the intracoronary guidewire in the distal coronary before PCI and 2 minutes after the last balloon inflation. After PCI, intracoronary ST-segment shift ≥1 mm from baseline was considered significant. Troponin I levels were measured at baseline and at 8 and 24 hours after intervention, and myocardial damage was defined as troponin I increase above the upper normal value after intervention. All patients had normal cardiac marker values before PCI, and PCI was successful in all (residual stenosis <20%, Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction grade 3 flow). After PCI, long-term follow-up data were collected; myocardial damage was detected in 50 patients (46%), although abnormal creatine kinase-MB values were documented in only 11 (10%). Significant intracoronary ST-segment shift after PCI was present in 40 patients (37%; group A) and absent in the remaining 68 (63%; group B). Procedural myocardial damage was documented in 37 group A patients (93%) and in 13 group B patients (19%; P <0.001); significant ECG changes were found on standard ECG after intervention in only 5 patients (13%) and 1 patient (1%) ( P <0.05). Sensitivity of intracoronary ST-segment shift for predicting myocardial damage was 74%, and specificity was 95%, with positive and negative predictive values of 93% and 81%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, intracoronary ST-segment shift was the sole independent predictor of myocardial damage (odds ratio, 54.1; 95% confidence interval, 12.1 to 240; P <0.0001). At a median follow-up of 12±5 months, major coronary event–free survival was significantly worse in group A patients (log-rank test χ 2 =4.0; P <0.05). Conclusions— After successful single-vessel PCI, intracoronary ST-segment shift allows the prompt and inexpensive identification of patients developing myocardial injury, who may require adjunctive therapy and longer in-hospital stay

Low-Intensity Whole-Body Vibration: A Useful Adjuvant in Managing Obesity? A Pilot Study

The use of whole-body vibration (WBV) for therapeutic purposes is far from being stan- dardized and an empirical foundation for reporting guidelines for human WBV studies has only very recently been published. Controversies about safety and therapeutic dosage still exist. The present study aimed to investigate the metabolic and mechanical effects of low-intensity WBV according to the ISO 2631 norm on subjects with obesity. Forty-one obese subjects (BMI ≥35 kg/m2) were recruited to participate in a 3-week multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation program including fitness training and WBV training. During WBV the posture was monitored with an optoelectronic system with six infrared cameras (Vicon, Vicon Motion System, Oxford, UK). The primary endpoints were: variation in body composition, factors of metabolic syndrome, functional activity (sit-to-stand and 6-min walking test), muscle strength, and quality of life. The secondary endpoints were: mod- ification of irisin, testosterone, growth hormone, IGF1 levels. We observed significant changes in salivary irisin levels, Group 2 (p < 0.01) as compared to the control group, while muscle strength, function, and other metabolic and hormonal factors did not change after a 3-week low-intensity WBV training with respect to the control group. Future studies are needed to further investigate the potential metabolic effect of low-intensity WBV in managing weight