774 research outputs found
The four-loop DRED gauge beta-function and fermion mass anomalous dimension for general gauge groups
We present four-loop results for the gauge beta-function and the fermion mass
anomalous dimension for a gauge theory with a general gauge group and a
multiplet of fermions transforming according to an arbitrary representation,
calculated using the dimensional reduction scheme. In the special case of a
supersymmetric theory we confirm previous calculations of both the gauge
beta-function and the gaugino mass beta-function.Comment: 44 pages, added references (v2) minor changes (v3
Recommended from our members
Tissue engineering a fetal membrane
The aim of this study was to construct an artificial fetal membrane (FM) by combination of human amniotic epithelial stem cells (hAESCs) and a mechanically enhanced collagen scaffold containing encapsulated human amniotic stromal fibroblasts (hASFs). Such a tissue-engineered FM may have the potential to plug structural defects in the amniotic sac after antenatal interventions, or to prevent preterm premature rupture of the FM. The hAESCs and hASFs were isolated from human fetal amniotic membrane (AM). Magnetic cell sorting was used to enrich the hAESCs by positive ATP-binding cassette G2 selection. We investigated the use of a laminin/fibronectin (1:1)-coated compressed collagen gel as a novel scaffold to support the growth of hAESCs. A type I collagen gel was dehydrated to form a material mimicking the mechanical properties and ultra-structure of human AM. hAESCs successfully adhered to and formed a monolayer upon the biomimetic collagen scaffold. The resulting artificial membrane shared a high degree of similarity in cell morphology, protein expression profiles, and structure to normal fetal AM. This study provides the first line of evidence that a compacted collagen gel containing hASFs could adequately support hAESCs adhesion and differentiation to a degree that is comparable to the normal human fetal AM in terms of structure and maintenance of cell phenotype
Gravitational Waves from Neutron Stars with Large Toroidal B-fields
We show that NS's with large toroidal B-fields tend naturally to evolve into
potent gravitational-wave (gw) emitters. The toroidal field B_t tends to
distort the NS into a prolate shape, and this magnetic distortion can easily
dominate over the oblateness ``frozen into'' the NS crust. An elastic NS with
frozen-in B-field of this magnitude is clearly secularly unstable: the wobble
angle between the NS's angular momentum J^i and the star's magnetic axis n_B^i
grow on a dissipation timescale until J^i and n_B^i are orthogonal. This final
orientation is clearly the optimal one for gravitational-wave (gw) emission.
The basic cause of the instability is quite general, so we conjecture that the
same final state is reached for a realistic NS. Assuming this, we show that for
LMXB's with B_t of order 10^{13}G, the spindown from gw's is sufficient to
balance the accretion torque--supporting a suggestion by Bildsten. The spindown
rates of most millisecond pulsars can also be attributed to gw emission sourced
by toroidal B-fields, and both these sources could be observed by LIGO II.
While the first-year spindown of a newborn NS is most likely dominated by em
processes, reasonable values of B_t and the (external) dipolar field B_d can
lead to detectable levels of gw emission, for a newborn NS in our own galaxy.Comment: 7 pages; submitted to PRD; only minor revision
Investigation of the Neutron Form Factors by Inclusive Quasi-Elastic Scattering of Polarized Electrons off Polarized He: A Theoretical Overview
The theory of quasi-elastic inclusive scattering of polarized leptons off
polarized He is critically reviewed and the origin of different expressions
for the polarized nuclear response function appearing in the literature is
explained. The sensitivity of the longitudinal asymmetry upon the neutron form
factors is thoroughly investigated and the role played by the polarization
angle for minimizing the proton contribution is illustrated.Comment: Phys. Rev C in press; 9 figs. (available upon request
Evidence for a three-nucleon-force effect in proton-deuteron elastic scattering
Developments in spin-polarized internal targets for storage rings have
permitted measurements of 197 MeV polarized protons scattering from vector
polarized deuterons. This work presents measurements of the polarization
observables A_y, iT_11, and C_y,y in proton-deuteron elastic scattering. When
compared to calculations with and without three-nucleon forces, the
measurements indicate that three-nucleon forces make a significant contribution
to the observables. This work indicates that three-body forces derived from
static nuclear properties appear to be crucial to the description of dynamical
properties.Comment: 8 pages 2 figures Latex, submitted to Phys. Rev. Letter
Transverse Fresnel-Fizeau drag effects in strongly dispersive media
A light beam normally incident upon an uniformly moving dielectric medium is
in general subject to bendings due to a transverse Fresnel-Fizeau light drag
effect. In conventional dielectrics, the magnitude of this bending effect is
very small and hard to detect. Yet, it can be dramatically enhanced in strongly
dispersive media where slow group velocities in the m/s range have been
recently observed taking advantage of the electromagnetically induced
transparency (EIT) effect. In addition to the usual downstream drag that takes
place for positive group velocities, we predict a significant anomalous
upstream drag to occur for small and negative group velocities. Furthermore,
for sufficiently fast speeds of the medium, higher order dispersion terms are
found to play an important role and to be responsible for peculiar effects such
as light propagation along curved paths and the restoration of the spatial
coherence of an incident noisy beam. The physics underlying this new class of
slow-light effects is thoroughly discussed
Micro-evolutionary diversification among Indian Ocean parrots: temporal and spatial changes in phylogenetic diversity as a consequence of extinction and invasion
Almost 90% of global bird extinctions have occurred on islands. The loss of endemic spe- cies from island systems can dramatically alter evolutionary trajectories of insular species biodiversity, resulting in a loss of evolutionary diversity important for species adaptation to changing environments. The Western Indian Ocean islands have been the scene of evolution for a large number of endemic parrots. Since their discovery in the 16th cen- tury, many of these parrots have become extinct or have declined in numbers. Alongside the extinction of species, a number of the Indian Ocean islands have experienced coloni- zation by highly invasive parrots, such as the Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri. Such extinctions and invasions can, on an evolutionary timescale, drive changes in spe- cies composition, genetic diversity and turnover in phylogenetic diversity, all of which can have important impacts on species potential for adaptation to changing environmen- tal and climatic conditions. Using mtDNA cytochrome b data, we resolve the taxonomic placement of three extinct Indian Ocean parrots: the Rodrigues Psittacula exsul, Sey- chelles Psittacula wardi and Reunion Parakeets Psittacula eques. This case study quantifies how the extinction of these species has resulted in lost historical endemic phylogenetic diversity and reduced levels of species richness, and illustrates how it is being replaced by non-endemic invasive forms such as the Ring-necked Parakeet. Finally, we use our phylogenetic framework to identify and recommend a number of phylogenetically appro- priate ecological replacements for the extinct parrots. Such replacements may be intro- duced once invasive forms have been cleared, to rejuvenate ecosystem function and restore lost phylogenetic diversity
Preliminary results for RR Lyrae stars and Classical Cepheids from the Vista Magellanic Cloud (VMC) Survey
The Vista Magellanic Cloud (VMC, PI M.R. Cioni) survey is collecting
-band time series photometry of the system formed by the two Magellanic
Clouds (MC) and the "bridge" that connects them. These data are used to build
-band light curves of the MC RR Lyrae stars and Classical Cepheids and
determine absolute distances and the 3D geometry of the whole system using the
-band period luminosity (), the period - luminosity - color ()
and the Wesenhiet relations applicable to these types of variables. As an
example of the survey potential we present results from the VMC observations of
two fields centered respectively on the South Ecliptic Pole and the 30 Doradus
star forming region of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The VMC -band light
curves of the RR Lyrae stars in these two regions have very good photometric
quality with typical errors for the individual data points in the range of
0.02 to 0.05 mag. The Cepheids have excellent light curves (typical
errors of 0.01 mag). The average magnitudes derived for both types
of variables were used to derive relations that are in general good
agreement within the errors with the literature data, and show a smaller
scatter than previous studies.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure. Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space
Science. Following a presentation at the conference "The Fundamental Cosmic
Distance Scale: State of the Art and the Gaia Perspective", Naples, May 201
- …