203 research outputs found
Quantum N = 2 Supersymmetric Black Holes in the S-T Model
We consider axion-free quantum corrected black hole solutions in the context of the heterotic S-T model with half the N=2, D=4 supersymmetries unbroken. We express the perturbatively corrected entropy in terms of the electric and magnetic charges in such a way, that target-space duality invariance is manifest. We also discuss the microscopic origin of particular quantum black hole configurations. We propose a microscopic interpretation in terms of a gas of closed membranes for the instanton corrections to the entropy
Asymptomatic Achilles tendon pathology is associated with a central fat distribution in men and a peripheral fat distribution in women: a cross sectional study of 298 individuals
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adiposity is a modifiable factor that has been implicated in tendinopathy. As tendon pain reduces physical activity levels and can lead to weight gain, associations between tendon pathology and adiposity must be studied in individuals without tendon pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether fat distribution was associated with asymptomatic Achilles tendon pathology.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The Achilles tendons of 298 individuals were categorised as normal or pathological using diagnostic ultrasound. Fat distribution was determined using anthropometry (waist circumference, waist hip ratio [WHR]) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Asymptomatic Achilles tendon pathology was more evident in men (13%) than women (5%) (p = 0.007). Men with tendon pathology were older (50.9 ± 10.4, 36.3 ± 11.3, p < 0.001), had greater WHR (0.926 ± 0.091, 0.875 ± 0.065, p = 0.039), higher android/gynoid fat mass ratio (0.616 ± 0.186, 0.519 ± 0.142, p = 0.014) and higher upper-body/lower body fat mass ratio (2.346 ± 0.630, 2.022 ± 0.467, p = 0.013). Men older than 40 years with a waist circumference >83 cm had the greatest prevalence of tendon pathology (33%). Women with tendon pathology were older (47.4 ± 10.0, 36.0 ± 10.3, p = 0.008), had less total fat (17196 ± 3173 g, 21626 ± 7882 g, p = 0.009), trunk fat (7367 ± 1662 g, 10087 ± 4152 g, p = 0.003) and android fat (1117 ± 324 g, 1616 ± 811 g, p = 0.005). They had lower central/peripheral fat mass ratios (0.711 ± 0.321 g, 0.922 ± 0.194 g, p = 0.004) than women with normal tendons. Women with tendon pathology were more often menopausal (63%, 13%, p = 0.002).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Men with Achilles tendon pathology were older and had a central fat distribution. Women with tendon pathology were older and had a peripheral fat distribution. An interaction between age and waist circumference was observed among men.</p
Black Holes and Flop Transitions in M-Theory on Calabi-Yau Threefolds
We present fivedimensional extreme black hole solutions of M-theory
compactified on Calabi-Yau threefolds and study these solutions in the context
of flop transitions in the extended Kahler cone. In particular we consider a
specific model and present black hole solutions, breaking half of N=2
supersymmetry, in two regions of the extended Kahler cone, which are connected
by a flop transition. The conditions necessary to match both solutions at the
flop transition are analysed. Finally we also discuss the conditions to obtain
massless black holes at the flop transition.Comment: 19 pp, LaTe
Third post-Newtonian constrained canonical dynamics for binary point masses in harmonic coordinates
The conservative dynamics of two point masses given in harmonic coordinates
up to the third post-Newtonian (3pN) order is treated within the framework of
constrained canonical dynamics. A representation of the approximate Poincar\'e
algebra is constructed with the aid of Dirac brackets. Uniqueness of the
generators of the Poincar\'e group resp. the integrals of motion is achieved by
imposing their action on the point mass coordinates to be identical with that
of the usual infinitesimal Poincar\'e transformations. The second
post-Coulombian approximation to the dynamics of two point charges as predicted
by Feynman-Wheeler electrodynamics in Lorentz gauge is treated similarly.Comment: 42 pages, submitted to Phys. Rev.
A relativistic action-at-a-distance description of gravitational interactions?
It is shown that certain aspects of gravitation may be described using a
relativistic action-at-a-distance formulation. The equations of motion of the
model presented are invariant under Lorentz transformations and agree with the
equations of Einstein's theory of General Relativity, at the first
Post-Newtonian approximation, for any number of interacting point masses
Effectiveness of raw bacteriocin produced from lactic acid bacteria on biofilm of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Background and Aim: Probiotics are proven beneficial to health since they enhance immunity against dangerous pathogens and increase resistance to illness. Bacteriocin produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB), demonstrates a broad inhibitory spectrum and therapeutic potential. This study aimed to isolate LAB-producing bacteriocin and investigate the effect of crude bacteriocin on biofilm from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Materials and Methods: This study used randomly collected 80 white soft local cheeses (40 each from cows and sheep) from different supermarkets in Basrah Province. The obtained samples were cultured and the bacterial suspension of S. aureus was prepared at 1.5 Ă— 108 cells/mL. The crude bacteriocin extracted from LAB was obtained, and the tube was dried and inverted to detect the biofilm loss at the bottom.
Results: There were 67 (83.75%) LAB isolates. Among 40 milk samples collected directly and indirectly, there were 36 (83.33%). Staphylococcus aureus isolates based on conventional bacteriological analysis and biochemical tests. Molecular testing was conducted to identify LAB and MRSA. Depending on genotypic results, the effect of white soft local cheese (cows and sheep) and the amplification results of the 16S rRNA gene were detected in 46 LAB isolates from white soft local cheese from cows and sheep. Based on the molecular identification of the mecA, results on Staphylococcus determined that only 2 of 36 isolates of S. aureus carried the mecA. Moreover, there were 26 (86.66%) isolates (MRSA) from samples of raw milk from local markets and subclinical mastitis in cows. The ability of LAB isolates was tested. The effects of bacteriocin production on preventing biofilm growth and formation were investigated. Results demonstrated that bacteriocin has high activity. Microtiter plates applied to investigate the ability of S. aureus to produce biofilms revealed that all isolates were either weak or moderate biofilm producers, with neither non-biofilm nor strong biofilm producers found among the tested isolates.
Conclusion: Lactic acid bacteria demonstrate a high ability to produce bacteriocin. Crude bacteriocin from LAB has a restrictive effect on biofilms produced by MRSA; thus, it can be used to reduce the pathogenicity of this bacterium
AdS and stabilized extra dimensions in multidimensional gravitational models with nonlinear scalar curvature terms 1/R and R^4
We study multidimensional gravitational models with scalar curvature
nonlinearities of the type 1/R and R^4. It is assumed that the corresponding
higher dimensional spacetime manifolds undergo a spontaneous compactification
to manifolds with warped product structure. Special attention is paid to the
stability of the extra-dimensional factor spaces. It is shown that for certain
parameter regions the systems allow for a freezing stabilization of these
spaces. In particular, we find for the 1/R model that configurations with
stabilized extra dimensions do not provide a late-time acceleration (they are
AdS), whereas the solution branch which allows for accelerated expansion (the
dS branch) is incompatible with stabilized factor spaces. In the case of the
R^4 model, we obtain that the stability region in parameter space depends on
the total dimension D=dim(M) of the higher dimensional spacetime M. For D>8 the
stability region consists of a single (absolutely stable) sector which is
shielded from a conformal singularity (and an antigravity sector beyond it) by
a potential barrier of infinite height and width. This sector is smoothly
connected with the stability region of a curvature-linear model. For D<8 an
additional (metastable) sector exists which is separated from the conformal
singularity by a potential barrier of finite height and width so that systems
in this sector are prone to collapse into the conformal singularity. This
second sector is not smoothly connected with the first (absolutely stable) one.
Several limiting cases and the possibility for inflation are discussed for the
R^4 model.Comment: 28 pages, minor cosmetic improvements, Refs. added; to appear in
Class. Quantum Gra
Field-resolved spectroscopy approaching ultimate detection sensitivity. (submitted to Nature)
Black holes and black strings of N=2, d=5 supergravity in the H-FGK formalism
We study general classes and properties of extremal and non-extremal static
black-hole solutions of N=2, d=5 supergravity coupled to vector multiplets
using the recently proposed H-FGK formalism, which we also extend to static
black strings. We explain how to determine the integration constants and
physical parameters of the black-hole and black-string solutions. We derive
some model-independent statements, including the transformation of non-extremal
flow equations to the form of those for the extremal flow. We apply our methods
to the construction of example solutions (among others a new extremal string
solution of heterotic string theory on K_3 \times S^1). In the cases where we
have calculated it explicitly, the product of areas of the inner and outer
horizon of a non-extremal solution coincides with the square of the
moduli-independent area of the horizon of the extremal solution with the same
charges.Comment: 33 pages. Revised version: references added. No other change
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