613 research outputs found
Kerr/CFT correspondence and five-dimensional BMPV black holes
We apply a recently proposed Kerr/CFT correspondence to extremal
supersymmetric five-dimensional charged spinning black holes, constructed by
Breckenridge, Myers, Peet and Vafa. By computing the central charge of the dual
CFT and Frolov-Thorne temperature, Cardy's formula succeeds in reproducing
Bekenstein-Hawking area law.Comment: 10 pages, typos corrected, references added, explanation improved and
a missing factor 2 found; v3: a reference added, minor change
New Gauged Linear Sigma Models for 8D HyperKahler Manifolds and Calabi-Yau Crystals
We propose two kinds of gauged linear sigma models whose moduli spaces are
real eight-dimensional hyperKahler and Calabi-Yau manifolds, respectively.
Here, hyperKahler manifolds have sp(2) holonomy in general and are dual to Type
IIB (p,q)5-brane configurations. On the other hand, Calabi-Yau fourfolds are
toric varieties expressed as quotient spaces. Our model involving fourfolds is
different from the usual one which is directly related to a symplectic quotient
procedure. Remarkable features in newly-found three-dimensional
Chern-Simons-matter theories appear here as well, such as dynamical
Fayet-Iliopoulos parameters, one dualized photon and its residual discrete
gauge symmetry.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figure; v2: minor changes and references added; v3:
statements improved, newer than JHEP versio
Correlator of Fundamental and Anti-symmetric Wilson Loops in AdS/CFT Correspondence
We study the two circular Wilson loop correlator in which one is of
anti-symmetric representation, while the other is of fundamental representation
in 4-dimensional super Yang-Mills theory. This correlator has a
good AdS dual, which is a system of a D5-brane and a fundamental string. We
calculated the on-shell action of the string, and clarified the Gross-Ooguri
transition in this correlator. Some limiting cases are also examined.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures, v2: typos corrected, v3: final version in JHE
Top Quark Decays into Heavy Quark Mesons
For top quark decays into heavy quark mesons and , a
complete calculation to the leading order both in QCD coupling constant
and in , the typical velocity of the heavy quarks inside the
mesons, is performed. Relatons between the top quark mass and the decay
branching ratios are studied. Comparion with the results which are obtained by
using the quark frangmentation functions is also discussed. The branching
ratios are consistent (within a factor of ) with that obtained using
fragmentation functions at GeV.Comment: 15 pages in LaTex form, 4 figures include
Uniformization, Calogero-Moser/Heun duality and Sutherland/bubbling pants
Inspired by the work of Alday, Gaiotto and Tachikawa (AGT), we saw the
revival of Poincar{\'{e}}'s uniformization problem and Fuchsian equations
obtained thereof.
Three distinguished aspects are possessed by Fuchsian equations. First, they
are available via imposing a classical Liouville limit on level-two null-vector
conditions. Second, they fall into some A_1-type integrable systems. Third, the
stress-tensor present there (in terms of the Q-form) manifests itself as a kind
of one-dimensional "curve".
Thereby, a contact with the recently proposed Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit was
soon made on the one hand, whilst the seemingly mysterious derivation of
Seiberg-Witten prepotentials from integrable models become resolved on the
other hand. Moreover, AGT conjecture can just be regarded as a quantum version
of the previous Poincar{\'{e}}'s approach.
Equipped with these observations, we examined relations between spheric and
toric (classical) conformal blocks via Calogero-Moser/Heun duality. Besides, as
Sutherland model is also obtainable from Calogero-Moser by pinching tori at one
point, we tried to understand its eigenstates from the viewpoint of toric
diagrams with possibly many surface operators (toric branes) inserted. A
picture called "bubbling pants" then emerged and reproduced well-known results
of the non-critical self-dual c=1 string theory under a "blown-down" limit.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures; v2: corrections and references added; v3:
Section 2.4.1 newly added thanks to JHEP referee advice. That classical
four-point spheric conformal blocks reproducing known SW prepotentials is
demonstrated via more examples, to appear in JHEP; v4: TexStyle changed onl
D-instantons and Closed String Tachyons in Misner Space
We investigate closed string tachyon condensation in Misner space, a toy
model for big bang universe. In Misner space, we are able to condense tachyonic
modes of closed strings in the twisted sectors, which is supposed to remove the
big bang singularity. In order to examine this, we utilize D-instanton as a
probe. First, we study general properties of D-instanton by constructing
boundary state and effective action. Then, resorting to these, we are able to
show that tachyon condensation actually deforms the geometry such that the
singularity becomes milder.Comment: 24 pages, 1 figure, minor change
The Role of the Mucus Barrier in Digestion
Mucus forms a protective layer across a variety of epithelial surfaces. In the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the barrier has to permit the uptake of nutrients, while excluding potential hazards, such as pathogenic bacteria. In this short review article, we look at recent literature on the structure, location, and properties of the mammalian intestinal secreted mucins and the mucus layer they form over a wide range of length scales. In particular, we look at the structure of the gel-forming glycoprotein MUC2, the primary intestinal secreted mucin, and the influence this has on the properties of the mucus layer. We show that, even at the level of the protein backbone, MUC2 is highly heterogeneous and that this is reflected in the networks it forms. It is evident that a combination of charge and pore size determines what can diffuse through the layer to the underlying gut epithelium. This information is important for the targeted delivery of bioactive molecules, including nutrients and pharmaceuticals, and for understanding how GI health is maintained
Using ICP-OES and SEM-EDX in biosorption studies
We have compared the analytical results obtained by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and by scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray analytical system (SEM-EDX) in order to explore the mechanism of metal ions biosorption by biomass using two independent methods. The marine macroalga Enteromorpha sp. was enriched with Cu(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), and Co(II) ions via biosorption, and the biosorption capacity of alga determined from the solution and biomass composition before and after biosorption process was compared. The first technique was used to analyze the composition of the natural and metal-loaded biomass, and additionally the composition of the solution before and after biosorption. The second technique was used to obtain a picture of the surface of natural and metal ion-loaded macroalgae, to map the elements on the cell wall of dry biomass, and to determine their concentration before and after biosorption. ICP-OES showed a better precision and lower detection limit than EDX, but SEM-EDX gave more information regarding the sample composition of Enteromorpha sp. Both techniques confirmed that biosorption is a surface phenomenon, in which alkali and alkaline earth metal ions were exchanged by metal ions from aqueous solution
Albumin Adducts of Electrophilic Benzene Metabolites in Benzene-Exposed and Control Workers
BACKGROUND: Metabolism of benzene produces reactive electrophiles, including benzene oxide (BO), 1,4-benzoquinone (1,4-BQ), and 1,2-benzoquinone (1,2-BQ), that are capable of reacting with blood proteins to produce adducts. OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of this study was to characterize relationships between levels of albumin adducts of these electrophiles in blood and the corresponding benzene exposures in benzene-exposed and control workers, after adjusting for important covariates. Because second blood samples were obtained from a subset of exposed workers, we also desired to estimate within-person and between-person variance components for the three adducts. METHODS: We measured albumin adducts and benzene exposures in 250 benzene-exposed workers (exposure range, 0.26–54.5 ppm) and 140 control workers (exposure range < 0.01–0.53 ppm) from Tianjin, China. Separate multiple linear regression models were fitted to the logged adduct levels for workers exposed to benzene < 1 ppm and ≥ 1 ppm. Mixed-effects models were used to estimate within-person and between-person variance components of adduct levels. RESULTS: We observed nonlinear (hockey-stick shaped) exposure–adduct relationships in log-scale, with inflection points between about 0.5 and 5 ppm. These inflection points represent air concentrations at which benzene contributed marginally to background adducts derived from smoking and from dietary and endogenous sources. Adduct levels were significantly affected by the blood-collection medium (serum or plasma containing either heparin or EDTA), smoking, age, and body mass index. When model predictions of adduct levels were plotted versus benzene exposure ≥ 1 ppm, we observed marked downward concavity, particularly for adducts of the benzoquinones. The between-person variance component of adduct levels increased in the order 1,2-BQ < 1,4-BQ < BO, whereas the within-person variance components of the three adducts followed the reverse order. CONCLUSIONS: Although albumin adducts of BO and the benzoquinones reflect exposures to benzene ≥ 1 ppm, they would not be useful biomarkers of exposure at ambient levels of benzene, which tend to be < 0.01 ppm, or in those working populations where exposures are consistently < 1 ppm. The concavity of exposure–adduct relationships is consistent with saturable metabolism of benzene at air concentrations > 1 ppm. The surprisingly large effect of the blood-collection medium on adduct levels, particularly those of the benzoquinones, should be further investigated
Targeted Overexpression of Osteoactivin in Cells of Osteoclastic Lineage Promotes Osteoclastic Resorption and Bone Loss in Mice
This study sought to test whether targeted overexpression of osteoactivin (OA) in cells of osteoclastic lineage, using the tartrate-resistant acid phosphase (TRAP) exon 1B/C promoter to drive OA expression, would increase bone resorption and bone loss in vivo. OA transgenic osteoclasts showed ∼2-fold increases in OA mRNA and proteins compared wild-type (WT) osteoclasts. However, the OA expression in transgenic osteoblasts was not different. At 4, 8, and 15.3 week-old, transgenic mice showed significant bone loss determined by pQCT and confirmed by μ-CT. In vitro, transgenic osteoclasts were twice as large, had twice as much TRAP activity, resorbed twice as much bone matrix, and expressed twice as much osteoclastic genes (MMP9, calciton receptor, and ADAM12), as WT osteoclasts. The siRNA-mediated suppression of OA expression in RAW264.7-derived osteoclasts reduced cell size and osteoclastic gene expression. Bone histomorphometry revealed that transgenic mice had more osteoclasts and osteoclast surface. Plasma c-telopeptide (a resorption biomarker) measurements confirmed an increase in bone resorption in transgenic mice in vivo. In contrast, histomorphometric bone formation parameters and plasma levels of bone formation biomarkers (osteocalcin and pro-collagen type I N-terminal peptide) were not different between transgenic mice and WT littermates, indicating the lack of bone formation effects. In conclusion, this study provides compelling in vivo evidence that osteoclast-derived OA is a novel stimulator of osteoclast activity and bone resorption
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