610 research outputs found
The 't Hooft Model As A Hologram
We consider the 3d dual of 1+1 dimensional large-N_c QCD with quarks in the
fundamental representation, also known as the 't Hooft model. 't Hooft solved
this model by deriving a Schroedinger equation for the wavefunction of a parton
inside the meson. In the scale-invariant limit, we show how this equation is
related by a transform to the equation of motion for a scalar field in AdS_3.
We thus find an explicit map between the `parton-x' variable and the radial
coordinate of AdS_3. This direct map allows us to check the AdS/CFT
prescription from the 2d side. We describe various features of the dual in the
conformal limit and to the leading order in conformal symmetry breaking, and
make some comments on the 3d theory in the fully non-conformal regime.Comment: Introduction expanded. References rearranged. The version published
in JHE
Massive Supergravity and Deconstruction
We present a simple superfield Lagrangian for massive supergravity. It
comprises the minimal supergravity Lagrangian with interactions as well as mass
terms for the metric superfield and the chiral compensator. This is the natural
generalization of the Fierz-Pauli Lagrangian for massive gravity which
comprises mass terms for the metric and its trace. We show that the on-shell
bosonic and fermionic fields are degenerate and have the appropriate spins: 2,
3/2, 3/2 and 1. We then study this interacting Lagrangian using goldstone
superfields. We find that a chiral multiplet of goldstones gets a kinetic term
through mixing, just as the scalar goldstone does in the non-supersymmetric
case. This produces Planck scale (Mpl) interactions with matter and all the
discontinuities and unitarity bounds associated with massive gravity. In
particular, the scale of strong coupling is (Mpl m^4)^1/5, where m is the
multiplet's mass. Next, we consider applications of massive supergravity to
deconstruction. We estimate various quantum effects which generate non-local
operators in theory space. As an example, we show that the single massive
supergravity multiplet in a 2-site model can serve the function of an extra
dimension in anomaly mediation.Comment: 24 pages, 2 figures, some color. Typos fixed and refs added in v
Enough is not enough: Medical students’ knowledge of early warning signs of childhood cancer
Background. The reported incidence of childhood cancer in upper-middle-income South Africa (SA) is much lower than in high-income countries, partly due to under-diagnosis and under-reporting. Documented survival rates are disturbingly low, prompting an analysis of potential factors that may be responsible.Objectives. To determine final-year medical students’ level of knowledge of early warning signs of childhood cancer and whether a correlation existed between test scores and participants’ age, gender and previous exposure to a person with cancer.Methods. A two-part questionnaire based on the Saint Siluan mnemonic, testing both recall and recognition of early warning signs of childhood cancer, was administered. The Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test was used to assess differences in continuous and count variables between demographic data, experience and responses, and Fisher’s exact test and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were used to determine correlations between demographic data, previous contact with persons with cancer and test scores. A novel equality ratio was calculated to compare the recall and recognition sections and allowed analysis of recall v. recognition.Results. The 84 participants recalled a median of six signs each (interquartile range 4 - 7) and correctly recognised a median of 70% in the recognition section, considered a pass mark. There was no correlation between participants’ age, gender, previous contact with a person with cancer and recognition scores. Students with previous exposure to a person with cancer had higher scores in the recall section, but this did not achieve statistical significance. Students were able to recognise more signs of haematological malignancies than central nervous system (CNS) malignancies.Conclusion. The study demonstrated a marked inconsistency between recall and recognition of signs of childhood cancer, with signs of CNS malignancies being least recognised. However, the majority of students could recognise enough early warning signs to meet the university pass standard. Although this study demonstrated acceptable recognition of early warning signs of childhood cancer at one university, we suggest that long-term recall in medical practitioners is poor, as reflected in the low age-standardised ratios of childhood cancer in SA. We recommend increased ongoing exposure to paediatric oncology in medical school and improved awareness programmes to increase early referrals
Hadrons in AdS/QCD models
We discuss applications of gauge/gravity duality to describe the spectrum of
light hadrons. We compare two particular 5-dimensional approaches: a model with
an infrared deformed Anti-de Sitter metric and another one based on a dynamical
AdS/QCD framework with back-reacted geometry in a dilaton/gravity background.
The models break softly the scale invariance in the infrared region and allow
mass gap for the field excitations in the gravity description, while keeping
the conformal property of the metric close to the four-dimensional boundary.
The models provide linear Regge trajectories for light mesons, associated with
specially designed infrared gravity properties. We also review the results for
the decay widths of the f0's into two pions, as overlap integrals between
mesonic string amplitudes, which are in qualitative agreement with data
The differential effects of concurrent planning practice elements on reunification and adoption
Objective: The child welfare practice of concurrent planning attempts to shorten children\u27s stays in foster care. There is very little quantitative research on concurrent planning\u27s effects. This study examines the influence of concurrent planning practice elements (reunification prognosis, concurrent plan, full disclosure, and discussion of voluntary relinquishment) on reunification and adoption. Method: Using a sample of 885 children, an observational design, and statistical controls, children who received concurrent planning elements were compared to those who did not. Results: Findings show discussion of voluntary relinquishment to be positively associated with adoption and full disclosure to be negatively associated with reunification. Conclusions: Concurrent planning\u27s benefits may require more intensive services to be fully realized. Care should be taken to ensure activities achieve their intended effects
Ab initio density functional investigation of B_24 cluster: Rings, Tubes, Planes, and Cages
We investigate the equilibrium geometries and the systematics of bonding in
various isomers of a 24-atom boron cluster using Born-Oppenheimer molecular
dynamics within the framework of density functional theory. The isomers studied
are the rings, the convex and the quasiplanar structures, the tubes and, the
closed structures. A staggered double-ring is found to be the most stable
structure amongst the isomers studied. Our calculations reveal that a 24-atom
boron cluster does form closed 3-d structures. All isomers show staggered
arrangement of nearest neighbor atoms. Such a staggering facilitates
hybridization in boron cluster. A polarization of bonds between the peripheral
atoms in the ring and the planar isomers is also seen. Finally, we discuss the
fusion of two boron icosahedra. We find that the fusion occurs when the
distance between the two icosahedra is less than a critical distance of about
6.5a.u.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures in jpeg format Editorially approved for
publication in Phys. Rev.
Is the low prevalence of peanut allergy in Israel due to hypoallergenic peanut products?
Pregnancy in women with perinatally acquired HIV-infection: Outcomes and challenges
This is a retrospective comparison of pregnant women with perinatally acquired HIV-infection (PAH) with a cohort of pregnant women with behaviorally acquired HIV-infection (BAH). PAH cases (11 women) included all pregnant adolescents followed at our HIV clinic from January 2000 to January 2009. BAH cases (27 women) were randomly selected from all deliveries within the study period at the same institution. Demographics, mode of delivery, CD4+ counts, and viral loads (VLs) before, during, and six months postpartum, as well as neonatal outcomes, were reviewed
Investigating the addition of collagen and its integrin binding sequence (RGD) to glass polyalkenoate; in terms of material and cellular properties to explore a more biocompatible method of root caries restoration
Twistor Strings with Flavour
We explore the tree-level description of a class of N=2 UV-finite SYM
theories with fundamental flavour within a topological B-model twistor string
framework. In particular, we identify the twistor dual of the Sp(N) gauge
theory with one antisymmetric and four fundamental hypermultiplets, as well as
that of the SU(N) theory with 2N hypermultiplets. This is achieved by suitably
orientifolding/orbifolding the original N=4 setup of Witten and adding a
certain number of new topological 'flavour'-branes at the orientifold/orbifold
fixed planes to provide the fundamental matter. We further comment on the
appearance of these objects in the B-model on CP(3|4). An interesting aspect of
our construction is that, unlike the IIB description of these theories in terms
of D3 and D7-branes, on the twistor side part of the global flavour symmetry is
realised geometrically. We provide evidence for this correspondence by
calculating and matching amplitudes on both sides.Comment: 38+12 pages; uses axodraw.sty. v2: References added, minor
clarification
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