178 research outputs found
Causality in AdS/CFT and Lovelock theory
We explore the constraints imposed on higher curvature corrections of the
Lovelock type due to causality restrictions in the boundary of asymptotically
AdS space-time. In the framework of AdS/CFT, this is related to positivity of
the energy constraints that arise in conformal collider physics. We present
explicit analytic results that fully address these issues for cubic Lovelock
gravity in arbitrary dimensions and give the formal analytic results that
comprehend general Lovelock theory. The computations can be performed in two
ways, both by considering a thermal setup in a black hole background and by
studying the scattering of gravitons with a shock wave in AdS. We show that
both computations coincide in Lovelock theory. The different helicities, as
expected, provide the boundaries defining the region of allowed couplings. We
generalize these results to arbitrary higher dimensions and discuss their
consequences on the shear viscosity to energy density ratio of CFT plasmas, the
possible existence of Boulware-Deser instabilities in Lovelock theory and the
extent to which the AdS/CFT correspondence might be valid for arbitrary
dimensions.Comment: 35 pages, 20 figures; v2: minor amendments and clarifications
include
Black Holes in Quasi-topological Gravity
We construct a new gravitational action which includes cubic curvature
interactions and which provides a useful toy model for the holographic study of
a three parameter family of four- and higher-dimensional CFT's. We also
investigate the black hole solutions of this new gravity theory. Further we
examine the equations of motion of quasi-topological gravity. While the full
equations in a general background are fourth-order in derivatives, we show that
the linearized equations describing gravitons propagating in the AdS vacua
match precisely the second-order equations of Einstein gravity.Comment: 33 pages, 4 figures; two references adde
Analytical study on holographic superconductors in external magnetic field
We investigate the holographic superconductors immersed in an external
magnetic field by using the analytical approach. We obtain the spatially
dependent condensate solutions in the presence of the magnetism and find
analytically that the upper critical magnetic field satisfies the relation
given in the Ginzburg-Landau theory. We observe analytically the reminiscent of
the Meissner effect where the magnetic field expels the condensate. Extending
to the D-dimensional Gauss-Bonnet AdS black holes, we examine the influence
given by the Gauss-Bonnet coupling on the condensation. Different from the
positive coupling, we find that the negative Gauss-Bonnet coupling enhances the
condensation when the external magnetism is not strong enough.Comment: revised version, to appear in JHE
Carrier multiplication in germanium nanocrystals
Carrier multiplication is demonstrated in a solid-state dispersion of germanium nanocrystals in a silicon-dioxide matrix. This is performed by comparing ultrafast photo-induced absorption transients at different pump photon energies below and above the threshold energy for this process. The average germanium nanocrystal size is approximately 5-6 nm, as inferred from photoluminescence and Raman spectra. A carrier multiplication efficiency of approximately 190% is measured for photo-excitation at 2.8 times the optical bandgap of germanium nanocrystals, deduced from their photoluminescence spectra.Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Holographic Calculations of Renyi Entropy
We extend the approach of Casini, Huerta and Myers to a new calculation of
the Renyi entropy of a general CFT in d dimensions with a spherical entangling
surface, in terms of certain thermal partition functions. We apply this
approach to calculate the Renyi entropy in various holographic models. Our
results indicate that in general, the Renyi entropy will be a complicated
nonlinear function of the central charges and other parameters which
characterize the CFT. We also exhibit the relation between this new thermal
calculation and a conventional calculation of the Renyi entropy where a twist
operator is inserted on the spherical entangling surface. The latter insight
also allows us to calculate the scaling dimension of the twist operators in the
holographic models.Comment: 71 pages, 6 figure
Intra-operative spectroscopic assessment of surgical margins during breast conserving surgery
Background: In over 20% of breast conserving operations, postoperative pathological assessment of the excised tissue reveals positive margins, requiring additional surgery. Current techniques for intra-operative assessment of tumor margins are insufficient in accuracy or resolution to reliably detect small tumors. There is a distinct need for a fast technique to accurately identify tumors smaller than 1 mm2 in large tissue surfaces within 30 min.
Methods: Multi-modal spectral histopathology (MSH), a multimodal imaging technique combining tissue auto-fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy was used to detect microscopic residual tumor at the surface of the excised breast tissue. New algorithms were developed to optimally utilize auto-fluorescence images to guide Raman measurements and achieve the required detection accuracy over large tissue surfaces (up to 4 × 6.5 cm2). Algorithms were trained on 91 breast tissue samples from 65 patients.
Results: Independent tests on 121 samples from 107 patients - including 51 fresh, whole excision specimens - detected breast carcinoma on the tissue surface with 95% sensitivity and 82% specificity. One surface of each uncut excision specimen was measured in 12–24 min. The combination of high spatial-resolution auto-fluorescence with specific diagnosis by Raman spectroscopy allows reliable detection even for invasive carcinoma or ductal carcinoma in situ smaller than 1 mm2.
Conclusions: This study provides evidence that this multimodal approach could provide an objective tool for intra-operative assessment of breast conserving surgery margins, reducing the risk for unnecessary second operations
Introduction to a Culturally Sensitive Measure of Well-Being: Combining Life Satisfaction and Interdependent Happiness Across 49 Different Cultures
How can one conclude that well-being is higher in country A than country B, when well-being is being measured according to the way people in country A think about well-being? We address this issue by proposing a new culturally sensitive method to comparing societal levels of well-being. We support our reasoning with data on life satisfaction and interdependent happiness focusing on individual and family, collected mostly from students, across forty-nine countries. We demonstrate that the relative idealization of the two types of well-being varies across cultural contexts and are associated with culturally different models of selfhood. Furthermore, we show that rankings of societal well-being based on life satisfaction tend to underestimate the contribution from interdependent happiness. We introduce a new culturally sensitive method for calculating societal well-being, and examine its construct validity by testing for associations with the experience of emotions and with individualism-collectivism. This new culturally sensitive approach represents a slight, yet important improvement in measuring well-being
Clock genes and their genomic distributions in three species of salmonid fishes: Associations with genes regulating sexual maturation and cell cycling
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Clock family genes encode transcription factors that regulate clock-controlled genes and thus regulate many physiological mechanisms/processes in a circadian fashion. Clock1 duplicates and copies of Clock3 and NPAS2-like genes were partially characterized (genomic sequencing) and mapped using family-based indels/SNPs in rainbow trout (RT)(<it>Oncorhynchus mykiss</it>), Arctic charr (AC)(<it>Salvelinus alpinus</it>), and Atlantic salmon (AS)(<it>Salmo salar</it>) mapping panels.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Clock1 duplicates mapped to linkage groups RT-8/-24, AC-16/-13 and AS-2/-18. Clock3/NPAS2-like genes mapped to RT-9/-20, AC-20/-43, and AS-5. Most of these linkage group regions containing the Clock gene duplicates were derived from the most recent 4R whole genome duplication event specific to the salmonids. These linkage groups contain quantitative trait loci (QTL) for life history and growth traits (i.e., reproduction and cell cycling). Comparative synteny analyses with other model teleost species reveal a high degree of conservation for genes in these chromosomal regions suggesting that functionally related or co-regulated genes are clustered in syntenic blocks. For example, anti-müllerian hormone (amh), regulating sexual maturation, and ornithine decarboxylase antizymes (oaz1 and oaz2), regulating cell cycling, are contained within these syntenic blocks.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Synteny analyses indicate that regions homologous to major life-history QTL regions in salmonids contain many candidate genes that are likely to influence reproduction and cell cycling. The order of these genes is highly conserved across the vertebrate species examined, and as such, these genes may make up a functional cluster of genes that are likely co-regulated. CLOCK, as a transcription factor, is found within this block and therefore has the potential to cis-regulate the processes influenced by these genes. Additionally, clock-controlled genes (CCGs) are located in other life-history QTL regions within salmonids suggesting that at least in part, trans-regulation of these QTL regions may also occur via Clock expression.</p
A Field Guide to Pandemic, Epidemic and Sporadic Clones of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
In recent years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) have become a truly global challenge. In addition to the long-known
healthcare-associated clones, novel strains have also emerged outside of the
hospital settings, in the community as well as in livestock. The emergence and
spread of virulent clones expressing Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is an
additional cause for concern. In order to provide an overview of pandemic,
epidemic and sporadic strains, more than 3,000 clinical and veterinary isolates
of MRSA mainly from Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Malta, Abu
Dhabi, Hong Kong, Australia, Trinidad & Tobago as well as some reference
strains from the United States have been genotyped by DNA microarray analysis.
This technique allowed the assignment of the MRSA isolates to 34 distinct
lineages which can be clearly defined based on non-mobile genes. The results
were in accordance with data from multilocus sequence typing. More than 100
different strains were distinguished based on affiliation to these lineages,
SCCmec type and the presence or absence of PVL. These
strains are described here mainly with regard to clinically relevant
antimicrobial resistance- and virulence-associated markers, but also in relation
to epidemiology and geographic distribution. The findings of the study show a
high level of biodiversity among MRSA, especially among strains harbouring
SCCmec IV and V elements. The data also indicate a high
rate of genetic recombination in MRSA involving SCC elements, bacteriophages or
other mobile genetic elements and large-scale chromosomal replacements
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