Cosmological perturbation theory at three-loop order

We analyze the dark matter power spectrum at three-loop order in standard perturbation theory of large scale structure. We observe that at late times the loop expansion does not converge even for large scales (small momenta) well within the linear regime, but exhibits properties compatible with an asymptotic series. We propose a technique to restore the convergence in the limit of small momentum, and use it to obtain a perturbative expansion with improved convergence for momenta in the range where baryonic acoustic oscillations are present. Our results are compared with data from N-body simulations at different redshifts, and we find good agreement within this range.Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures, 1 table; v2 Typos corrected, references added. Matches published versio

Gauge-Independent Scales Related to the Standard Model Vacuum Instability

The measured (central) values of the Higgs and top quark masses indicate that the Standard Model (SM) effective potential develops an instability at high field values. The scale of this instability, determined as the Higgs field value at which the potential drops below the electroweak minimum, is about $10^{11}$ GeV. However, such a scale is unphysical as it is not gauge-invariant and suffers from a gauge-fixing uncertainty of up to two orders of magnitude. Subjecting our system, the SM, to several probes of the instability (adding higher order operators to the potential; letting the vacuum decay through critical bubbles; heating up the system to very high temperature; inflating it) and asking in each case physical questions, we are able to provide several gauge-invariant scales related with the Higgs potential instability.Comment: 44 pages, 9 figure

On the Soft Limit of the Large Scale Structure Power Spectrum: UV Dependence

We derive a non-perturbative equation for the large scale structure power spectrum of long-wavelength modes. Thereby, we use an operator product expansion together with relations between the three-point function and power spectrum in the soft limit. The resulting equation encodes the coupling to ultraviolet (UV) modes in two time-dependent coefficients, which may be obtained from response functions to (anisotropic) parameters, such as spatial curvature, in a modified cosmology. We argue that both depend weakly on fluctuations deep in the UV. As a byproduct, this implies that the renormalized leading order coefficient(s) in the effective field theory (EFT) of large scale structures receive most of their contribution from modes close to the non-linear scale. Consequently, the UV dependence found in explicit computations within standard perturbation theory stems mostly from counter-term(s). We confront a simplified version of our non-perturbative equation against existent numerical simulations, and find good agreement within the expected uncertainties. Our approach can in principle be used to precisely infer the relevance of the leading order EFT coefficient(s) using small volume simulations in an `anisotropic separate universe' framework. Our results suggest that the importance of these coefficient(s) is a $\sim 10 \%$ effect, and plausibly smaller.Comment: 25+5 pages, 10 figures, comments added, matches published versio

Neutrino mass bounds from confronting an effective model with BOSS Lyman-alpha data

We present an effective model for the one-dimensional Lyman-$\alpha$ flux power spectrum far above the baryonic Jeans scale. The main new ingredient is constituted by a set of two parameters that encode the impact of small, highly non-linear scales on the one-dimensional power spectrum on large scales, where it is measured by BOSS. We show that, by marginalizing over the model parameters that capture the impact of the intergalactic medium, the flux power spectrum from both simulations and observations can be described with high precision. The model displays a degeneracy between the neutrino masses and the (unknown, in our formalism) normalization of the flux power spectrum. This degeneracy can be lifted by calibrating one of the model parameters with simulation data, and using input from Planck CMB data. We demonstrate that this approach can be used to extract bounds on the sum of neutrino masses with comparably low numerical effort, while allowing for a conservative treatment of uncertainties from the dynamics of the intergalactic medium. An explorative analysis yields an upper bound of $0.16\,$eV at $95\%$ C.L. when applied to BOSS data at $3\leq z\leq 4.2$. We also forecast that if the systematic and statistical errors will be reduced by a factor two the upper bound will become $0.1\,$eV at $95\%$ C.L.Comment: 27 pages, 11 figure

WF10 Stimulates NK Cell Cytotoxicity by Increasing LFA-1-Mediated Adhesion to Tumor Cells

The redox-active chlorite-based drug WF10 (Immunokine) was shown to have modulatory effects on both the innate and adaptive immune system in vitro and in vivo. Animal studies suggest that WF10 enhances immunity against tumors. One possible explanation for such an effect is that WF10 stimulates natural killer cell cytotoxicity against malignant cells. Here, we show that WF10 regulates human NK cell cytotoxicity in a time-dependent manner, following an S-shaped kinetic with an initial stimulation of activity followed by a decrease in activity relative to the untreated controls. WF10 does not activate NK cells on its own but co-stimulates NK cell activation mediated by different activating receptors. This is mediated by enhancing NK cell adhesion to target cells through promoting the activation of the integrin LFA-1. These data demonstrate a direct effect of WF10 on the cytotoxicity of human NK cells

Functional improvement following direct interventional leaflet repair of severe tricuspid regurgitation

AIMS: Several new percutaneous tricuspid repair systems have recently been introduced as new treatment options for severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Clinical improvement following percutaneous tricuspid valve leaflet repair has been demonstrated by recent studies. A possible impact on exercise capacity has not yet been reported. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eleven patients with at least severe TR and successful tricuspid leaflet repair using the PASCAL Ace implant at our cardiology department were included in this analysis. All patients suffered from symptomatic right‐sided heart failure with compromised exercise capacity. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic parameters were assessed at baseline and 3 months follow‐up. The primary endpoint was the change in maximal oxygen consumption [VO(2) max (mL/(min*kg))] at 3 months follow‐up. Secondary endpoints included improvement in TR, cardiac biomarkers, and other clinical outcomes. TR severity at 3 months follow‐up post‐PASCAL Ace implantation was significantly lower than at baseline (P = 0.004). Cardiac biomarkers including high‐sensitivity troponin T and N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide as well as right ventricular diameter improved slightly without reaching statistical significance (P = 0.89, P = 0.32, and P = 0.06, respectively). PASCAL Ace implantation resulted in a significant improvement in cardiopulmonary exercise capacity at 3 months follow‐up compared with baseline. Mean VO(2) max improved from 9.5 ± 2.8 to 11.4 ± 3.4 mL/(min*kg) (P = 0.006), VO(2) max per cent predicted from 42 ± 12% to 50 ± 15% (P = 0.004), peak oxygen uptake from 703 ± 175 to 826 ± 198 mL/min (P = 0.004), and O(2) pulse per cent predicted from 67 ± 21% to 81 ± 25% (P = 0.011). Other CPET‐related outcomes did not show any significant change over time. CONCLUSIONS: In this single‐centre retrospective analysis, direct tricuspid valve leaflet repair using the transcatheter PASCAL Ace implant system was associated with a reduced TR severity and improved cardiopulmonary exercise capacity

Abfall von Sauerstoffsättigung und Blutdruck sowie Anstieg des zentralen Venendrucks im Rahmen eines Mitralklappenclippings bei einer 81-Jährigen

BACKGROUND: Atrial septal defects (ASD) following endovascular mitral valve clipping are potentially hemodynamically relevant complications. Immediate closure with an occluder can represent a safe and effective treatment. CASE SUMMARY: An 81-year-old female patient suffering from severe dyspnea due to previously known severe mitral valve regurgitation was scheduled for elective mitral valve clipping. The clip was successfully implanted. Removal of the transseptal cannula resulted in a sudden drop in oxygen saturation and systolic blood pressure as well as an immediate increase in central venous pressure. An iatrogenic left-right shunt was observed at the atrial level with a relevant shunt volume. Immediate closure using an atrial septal occluder successfully restored the oxygen saturation and hemodynamic parameters. CONCLUSION: An increase in central venous pressure, reduction of systolic blood pressure or oxygen saturation after withdrawal of the transseptal cannula during mitral valve clipping should always be further investigated regarding a possible ASD

Gravitational collapse in the Schrödinger-Poisson system

We perform a quantitative comparison between N-body simulations and the Schrödinger-Poisson system in 1+1 dimensions. In particular, we study halo formation with different initial conditions. We observe the convergence of various observables in the Planck constant $\bar{h}$ and also test virialization. We discuss the generation of higher order cumulants of the particle distribution function which demonstrates that the Schrödinger-Poisson equations should not be perceived as a generalization of the dust model with quantum pressure but rather as one way of sampling the phase space of the Vlasov-Poisson system - just as N-body simulations. Finally, we quantitatively recover the scaling behavior of the halo density profile from N-body simulations

The Schrödinger-Poisson method for Large-Scale Structure

We study the Schrödinger-Poisson (SP) method in the context of cosmological large-scale structure formation in an expanding background. In the limit $\hbar \to 0$, the SP technique can be viewed as an effective method to sample the phase space distribution of cold dark matter that remains valid on non-linear scales. We present results for the 2D and 3D matter correlation function and power spectrum at length scales corresponding to the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) peak. We discuss systematic effects of the SP method applied to cold dark matter and explore how they depend on the simulation parameters. In particular, we identify a combination of simulation parameters that controls the scale-independent loss of power observed at low redshifts, and discuss the scale relevant to this effect