Conformal defects in supergravity - backreacted Dirac delta sources

We construct numerically gravitational duals of theories deformed by localized Dirac delta sources for scalar operators both at zero and at finite temperature. We find that requiring that the backreacted geometry preserves the original scale invariance of the source uniquely determines the potential for the scalar field to be the one found in a certain Kaluza-Klein compactification of $11D$ supergravity. This result is obtained using an efficient perturbative expansion of the backreacted background at zero temperature and is confirmed by a direct numerical computation. Numerical solutions at finite temperatures are obtained and a detailed discussion of the numerical approach to the treatment of the Dirac delta sources is presented. The physics of defect configurations is illustrated with a calculation of entanglement entropy.Comment: 23 pages, 12 figure

Astrochronology of the Miocene Climatic Optimum record from Ocean Drilling Program Site 959 in the eastern equatorial Atlantic

The Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO; ~16.9–14.7 Ma) was a relatively warm interval which interrupted the Cenozoic cooling trend and bears analogies with projected near-future climate change. Evidence for MCO warming and climatic variability is dominantly based on studies from mid- to high-latitude regions and deep ocean benthic foraminiferal oxygen isotope reconstructions, whereas studies from tropical latitudes are needed to resolve latitudinal temperature gradients and ocean nutrient cycling. Sedimentary cores retrieved at Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 959 (Leg 159) in the eastern equatorial Atlantic Ocean offer a near-continuous, low-latitude record spanning the Early to Middle Miocene, but age constraints were limited. To achieve an orbitally resolved age model, we generated new calcareous nannofossil and diatom biostratigraphy as well as high-resolution bulk carbonate stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen isotope (δ18O) ratios, magnetic susceptibility (MS), weight percent CaCO3 and mean greyscale records. We record several diagnostic biostratigraphic markers and identify the well-dated onset of the MCO, Monterey Excursion (ME), Carbon Maxima (CM) events and peak warming in the bulk carbonate isotope records. An orbital age model is realized by tuning the bulk carbonate δ13C record to eccentricity extracted from the Laskar et al. (2004) astronomical solution that is consistent with the bio- and chemostratigraphic constraints. We conclude that the studied sediment record spans the Early to Middle Miocene interval between ~18.2 and 15 Ma and includes a hiatus directly prior to the onset of MCO of maximally ~700 kyr. All records reveal dominant eccentricity-paced variability, while prominent precession and obliquity paced variability is observed between ~16.9–16.1 Ma; this interval corresponds to a node in the long ~2.4 Myr eccentricity cycle. Moreover, a major shift from bio-siliceous-dominated to carbonate-rich sediments is found across the onset of the MCO (~16.9 Ma). Both lithologies represent intervals of relatively high productivity, likely associated with upwelling. Ultimately, our high-resolution record from Site 959 can provide an important opportunity for reconstructing a tropical paleoclimate record at precession-to-eccentricity resolution during the MCO

Valve-in-valve transcatheter transfemoral mitral valve implantation (ViV-TMVI): Characteristics and early results from nationwide registry

Background: Valve-in-valve transcatheter transfemoral mitral valve implantation (ViV-TMVI) is an emerging treatment alternative to reoperation in high surgical risk patients with a failed mitral bioprostheses. Aim: To describe characteristics and evaluate 30-day outcomes of ViV-TMVI in the Polish population. Methods: Nationwide registry was initiated to collect data of all patients with failed mitral bioprosthesis undergoing ViV-TMVI in Poland. This study presents 30-days clinical and echocardiographic follow-up. Results: Overall, 27 ViV-TMVI were performed in 8 centers until May 2022 (85% since 2020). Mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 73 (11.6) years with the median (interquartile range [IQR]) STS score of 5.3% (4.3%–14.3%). Mean (SD) time between surgical implantation and ViV-TMVI was 8.2 (3.2) years. Failed Hancock II (29%) and Perimount Magna (22%) were most frequently treated. Mechanisms of failure were equally often pure mitral regurgitation or stenosis (both 37%) with mixed etiology in 26%. Balloon-expandable Sapien 3/Ultra were used in all but 1 patient. Technical success was 96.3% (1 patient required additional prosthesis). Mean (SD) transvalvular mitral gradient reached 6.7 (2.2) mm Hg and mitral valve area was 1.8 (0.4) cm2. None of the patients had moderate or severe mitral regurgitation with only 14.8% graded as mild. In 92.6% device success (2 patients had mean gradient ≥10 mm Hg) and in 85.6% procedural success was present. There were no deaths, cerebrovascular events or need for mitral valve surgery during 30-day follow-up. Conclusions: In short-term observation ViV-TMVI is safe and effective alternative for patients with failed mitral bioprosthesis at high surgical risk of re-operation. Longer observations on larger sample are warranted

Potential range of impact of an ecological trap network: the case of timber stacks and the Rosalia longicorn

Although the negative impact of timber stacks on populations of saproxylic beetles is a well-known phenomenon, there is relatively little data concerning the scale of this impact and its spatial aspect. Beech timber stored in the vicinity of the forest can act as an ecological trap for the Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina), so in this study we have attempted to determine the spatial range of the impact of a network of timber stacks. Timber stacks in the species’ range in the study area were listed and monitored during the adult emergence period in 2014–2016. Based on published data relating to the species’ dispersal capabilities, buffers of four radii (500, 1000, 1600, 3000 m) were delineated around the stacks and the calculated ranges of potential impact. The results show that the percentage of currently known localities of the Rosalia longicorn impacted by stacks varies from 19.7 to 81.6%, depending on the assumed impact radius. The percentage of forest influenced by timber stacks was 77% for the largest-radius buffer. The overall impact of the ecological trap network is accelerated by fragmentation of the impact-free area. It was also found that forests situated close to the timber stacks where the Rosalia longicorn was recorded were older and more homogeneous in age and species composition than those around stacks where the species was absent. Such results suggest that timber stacks act as an ecological trap in the source area of the local population

Identification of genetic variants associated with Huntington's disease progression: a genome-wide association study

Background Huntington's disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene, HTT. Age at onset has been used as a quantitative phenotype in genetic analysis looking for Huntington's disease modifiers, but is hard to define and not always available. Therefore, we aimed to generate a novel measure of disease progression and to identify genetic markers associated with this progression measure. Methods We generated a progression score on the basis of principal component analysis of prospectively acquired longitudinal changes in motor, cognitive, and imaging measures in the 218 indivduals in the TRACK-HD cohort of Huntington's disease gene mutation carriers (data collected 2008–11). We generated a parallel progression score using data from 1773 previously genotyped participants from the European Huntington's Disease Network REGISTRY study of Huntington's disease mutation carriers (data collected 2003–13). We did a genome-wide association analyses in terms of progression for 216 TRACK-HD participants and 1773 REGISTRY participants, then a meta-analysis of these results was undertaken. Findings Longitudinal motor, cognitive, and imaging scores were correlated with each other in TRACK-HD participants, justifying use of a single, cross-domain measure of disease progression in both studies. The TRACK-HD and REGISTRY progression measures were correlated with each other (r=0·674), and with age at onset (TRACK-HD, r=0·315; REGISTRY, r=0·234). The meta-analysis of progression in TRACK-HD and REGISTRY gave a genome-wide significant signal (p=1·12 × 10−10) on chromosome 5 spanning three genes: MSH3, DHFR, and MTRNR2L2. The genes in this locus were associated with progression in TRACK-HD (MSH3 p=2·94 × 10−8 DHFR p=8·37 × 10−7 MTRNR2L2 p=2·15 × 10−9) and to a lesser extent in REGISTRY (MSH3 p=9·36 × 10−4 DHFR p=8·45 × 10−4 MTRNR2L2 p=1·20 × 10−3). The lead single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in TRACK-HD (rs557874766) was genome-wide significant in the meta-analysis (p=1·58 × 10−8), and encodes an aminoacid change (Pro67Ala) in MSH3. In TRACK-HD, each copy of the minor allele at this SNP was associated with a 0·4 units per year (95% CI 0·16–0·66) reduction in the rate of change of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) Total Motor Score, and a reduction of 0·12 units per year (95% CI 0·06–0·18) in the rate of change of UHDRS Total Functional Capacity score. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age of onset. Interpretation The multidomain progression measure in TRACK-HD was associated with a functional variant that was genome-wide significant in our meta-analysis. The association in only 216 participants implies that the progression measure is a sensitive reflection of disease burden, that the effect size at this locus is large, or both. Knockout of Msh3 reduces somatic expansion in Huntington's disease mouse models, suggesting this mechanism as an area for future therapeutic investigation

Assessing Selection Mechanisms in Charity Organizations Using Operational Research Methods

W artykule badana jest ekonomiczna efektywność działań mających na celu weryfikację potencjalnych beneficjentów programów charytatywnych. Taka weryfikacja ma na celu ograniczenie liczby osób otrzymujących pomoc charytatywną, które nie spełniają kryteriów jej przyznania. Jednocześnie, wiąże się ona z kosztami ponoszonymi przez organizatora programu. W artykule zaproponowano model teoretyczny opisujący to zjawisko. Do przeprowadzania analizy modelu wykorzystano metody optymalizacyjne oraz symulacyjne. Wynika z niej, że w zależności od parametrów programu charytatywnego optymalna może być jedna z trzech decyzji: przyznanie pomocy bez wprowadzania weryfikacji, przyznawanie pomocy po uprzedniej weryfikacji lub przeznaczenie środków pomocowych na inny cel. Optymalność rozwiązania zależy od charakterystyk programu, takich jak średnia kwota pomocy, średni koszt weryfikacji oraz odsetek osób potrzebujących spełniających założenia programu. W zależności od tych zmiennych organizacja charytatywna powinna podjąć decyzję o ewentualnym wprowadzeniu weryfikacji