Chiral properties of SU(3) sextet fermions

SU(3) gauge theory with overlap fermions in the 2-index symmetric (sextet) and fundamental representations is considered. A priori it is not known what the pattern of chiral symmetry breaking is in a higher dimensional representation although the general expectation is that if two representations are both complex, the breaking pattern will be the same. This expectation is verified for the sextet at N_f = 0 in several exact zero mode sectors. It is shown that if the volume is large enough the same random matrix ensemble describes both the sextet and fundamental Dirac eigenvalues. The number of zero modes for the sextet increases approximately 5-fold relative to the fundamental in accordance with the index theorem for small lattice spacing but zero modes which do not correspond to integer topological charge do exist at larger lattice spacings. The zero mode number dependence of the random matrix model predictions correctly match the simulations in each sector and each representation.Comment: 38 pages (12 pages text and gazillion tables/figures), minor modification, references adde

Tissue engineering and cell based therapies, from the bench to the clinic: The potential to replace, repair and regenerate

The field of Regenerative Biology as it applies to Regenerative Medicine is an increasingly expanding area of research with hopes of providing therapeutic treatments for diseases and/or injuries that conventional medicines and even new biologic drug therapies cannot effectively treat. Extensive research in the area of Regenerative Medicine is focused on the development of cells, tissues and organs for the purpose of restoring function through transplantation. The general belief is that replacement, repair and restoration of function is best accomplished by cells, tissues or organs that can perform the appropriate physiologic/metabolic duties better than any mechanical device, recombinant protein therapeutic or chemical compound. Several strategies are currently being investigated and include, cell therapies derived from autologous primary cell isolates, cell therapies derived from established cell lines, cell therapies derived from a variety of stem cells, including bone marrow/mesenchymal stem cells, cord blood stem cells, embryonic stem cells, as well as cells tissues and organs from genetically modified animals. This mini-review is not meant to be exhaustive, but aims to highlight clinical applications for the four areas of research listed above and will address a few key advances and a few of the hurdles yet to be overcome as the technology and science improve the likelihood that Regenerative Medicine will become clinically routine

The quadrupole moment of slowly rotating fluid balls

In this paper we use the second order formalism of Hartle to study slowly and rigidly rotating stars with focus on the quadrupole moment of the object. The second order field equations for the interior fluid are solved numerically for different classes of possible equations of state and these solutions are then matched to a vacuum solution that includes the general asymptotically flat axisymmetric metric to second order, using the Darmois-Israel procedure. For these solutions we find that the quadrupole moment differs from that of the Kerr metric, as has also been found for some equations of state in other studies. Further we consider the post-Minkowskian limit analytically. In the paper we also illustrate how the relativistic multipole moments can be calculated from a complex gravitational potential.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure

Phase Fluctuations near the Chiral Critical Point

The Helmholtz free energy density is parametrized as a function of temperature and baryon density near the chiral critical point of QCD. The parametrization incorporates the expected critical exponents and amplitudes. An expansion away from equilibrium states is achieved with Landau theory. This is used to calculate the probability that the system is found at a density other than the equilibrium one. Such fluctuations are predicted to be very large in heavy ion collisions.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, Winter Workshop on Nuclear Dynamics 201

Extended brief intervention to address alcohol misuse in people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities living in the community (EBI-ID): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

There is some evidence that people with intellectual disabilities who live in the community are exposed to the same risks of alcohol use as the rest of the population. Various interventions have been evaluated in the general population to tackle hazardous or harmful drinking and alcohol dependence, but the literature evaluating interventions is very limited regarding intellectual disabilities. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommends that brief and extended brief interventions be used to help young persons and adults who have screened as positive for hazardous and harmful drinking. The objective of this trial is to investigate the feasibility of adapting and delivering an extended brief intervention (EBI) to persons with mild/moderate intellectual disability who live in the community and whose level of drinking is harmful or hazardous

The QCD phase diagram at nonzero quark density

We determine the phase diagram of QCD on the \mu-T plane for small to moderate chemical potentials. Two transition lines are defined with two quantities, the chiral condensate and the strange quark number susceptibility. The calculations are carried out on N_t =6,8 and 10 lattices generated with a Symanzik improved gauge and stout-link improved 2+1 flavor staggered fermion action using physical quark masses. After carrying out the continuum extrapolation we find that both quantities result in a similar curvature of the transition line. Furthermore, our results indicate that in leading order the width of the transition region remains essentially the same as the chemical potential is increased.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure