73 research outputs found
Conformal Toda theory with a boundary
We investigate sl(n) conformal Toda theory with maximally symmetric
boundaries. There are two types of maximally symmetric boundary conditions, due
to the existence of an order two automorphism of the W(n>2) algebra. In one of
the two cases, we find that there exist D-branes of all possible dimensions 0
=< d =< n-1, which correspond to partly degenerate representations of the W(n)
algebra. We perform classical and conformal bootstrap analyses of such
D-branes, and relate these two approaches by using the semi-classical light
asymptotic limit. In particular we determine the bulk one-point functions. We
observe remarkably severe divergences in the annulus partition functions, and
attribute their origin to the existence of infinite multiplicities in the
fusion of representations of the W(n>2) algebra. We also comment on the issue
of the existence of a boundary action, using the calculus of constrained
functional forms, and derive the generating function of the B"acklund
transformation for sl(3) Toda classical mechanics, using the minisuperspace
limit of the bulk one-point function.Comment: 42 pages; version 4: added clarifications in section 2.2 and
footnotes 1 and
Form factors at strong coupling via a Y-system
We compute form factors in planar N=4 Super Yang-Mills at strong coupling.
Namely we consider the overlap between an operator insertion and 2n gluons.
Through the gauge/string duality these are given by minimal surfaces in AdS
space. The surfaces end on an infinite periodic sequence of null segments at
the boundary of AdS. We consider surfaces that can be embedded in AdS_3. We
derive set of functional equations for the cross ratios as functions of the
spectral parameter. These equations are of the form of a Y-system. The integral
form of the Y-system has Thermodynamics Bethe Ansatz form. The area is given by
the free energy of the TBA system or critical value of Yang-Yang functional. We
consider a restricted set of operators which have small conformal dimension
Quantum dots for multimodal molecular imaging of angiogenesis
Quantum dots exhibit unique optical properties for bioimaging purposes. We have previously developed quantum dots with a paramagnetic and functionalized coating and have shown their potential for molecular imaging purposes. In the current mini-review we summarize the synthesis procedure, the in vitro testing and, importantly, the in vivo application for multimodal molecular imaging of tumor angiogenesis
Doxorubicin loaded Polymeric Nanoparticulate Delivery System to overcome drug resistance in osteosarcoma
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Drug resistance is a primary hindrance for the efficiency of chemotherapy against osteosarcoma. Although chemotherapy has improved the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients dramatically after introduction of neo-adjuvant therapy in the early 1980's, the outcome has since reached plateau at approximately 70% for 5 year survival. The remaining 30% of the patients eventually develop resistance to multiple types of chemotherapy. In order to overcome both the dose-limiting side effects of conventional chemotherapeutic agents and the therapeutic failure incurred from multidrug resistant (MDR) tumor cells, we explored the possibility of loading doxorubicin onto biocompatible, lipid-modified dextran-based polymeric nanoparticles and evaluated the efficacy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Doxorubicin was loaded onto a lipid-modified dextran based polymeric nano-system. The effect of various concentrations of doxorubicin alone or nanoparticle loaded doxorubicin on KHOS, KHOS<sub>R2</sub>, U-2OS, and U-2OS<sub>R2 </sub>cells was analyzed. Effects on drug retention, immunofluorescence, Pgp expression, and induction of apoptosis were also analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Dextran nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin had a curative effect on multidrug resistant osteosarcoma cell lines by increasing the amount of drug accumulation in the nucleus via Pgp independent pathway. Nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin also showed increased apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells as compared with doxorubicin alone.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Lipid-modified dextran nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin showed pronounced anti-proliferative effects against osteosarcoma cell lines. These findings may lead to new treatment options for MDR osteosarcoma.</p
The nonperturbative functional renormalization group and its applications
The renormalization group plays an essential role in many areas of physics,
both conceptually and as a practical tool to determine the long-distance
low-energy properties of many systems on the one hand and on the other hand
search for viable ultraviolet completions in fundamental physics. It provides
us with a natural framework to study theoretical models where degrees of
freedom are correlated over long distances and that may exhibit very distinct
behavior on different energy scales. The nonperturbative functional
renormalization-group (FRG) approach is a modern implementation of Wilson's RG,
which allows one to set up nonperturbative approximation schemes that go beyond
the standard perturbative RG approaches. The FRG is based on an exact
functional flow equation of a coarse-grained effective action (or Gibbs free
energy in the language of statistical mechanics). We review the main
approximation schemes that are commonly used to solve this flow equation and
discuss applications in equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium statistical physics,
quantum many-particle systems, high-energy physics and quantum gravity.Comment: v2) Review article, 93 pages + bibliography, 35 figure
Electrical drives of continuous casting machine withdrawal rolls: a model and practical implementation of limitations on longitudinal forces in billets
- …