62 research outputs found
A covariant approach to general field space metric in multi-field inflation
We present a covariant formalism for general multi-field system which enables
us to obtain higher order action of cosmological perturbations easily and
systematically. The effects of the field space geometry, described by the
Riemann curvature tensor of the field space, are naturally incorporated. We
explicitly calculate up to the cubic order action which is necessary to
estimate non-Gaussianity and present those geometric terms which have not yet
known before.Comment: (v1) 18 pages, 1 figure; (v2) references added, typos corrected, to
appear in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics; (v3) typos in (54),
(62) and (64) correcte
Observational constraints on braneworld chaotic inflation
We examine observational constraints on chaotic inflation models in the
Randall-Sundrum Type II braneworld. If inflation takes place in the high-energy
regime, the perturbations produced by the quadratic potential are further from
scale-invariance than in the standard cosmology, in the quartic case more or
less unchanged, while for potentials of greater exponent the trend is reversed.
We test these predictions against a data compilation including the WMAP
measurements of microwave anisotropies and the 2dF galaxy power spectrum. While
in the standard cosmology the quartic potential is at the border of what the
data allow and all higher powers excluded, we find that in the high-energy
regime of braneworld inflation even the quadratic case is under strong
observational pressure. We also investigate the intermediate regime where the
brane tension is comparable to the inflationary energy scale, where the
deviations from scale-invariance prove to be greater.Comment: 5 pages RevTeX4 file with three figures incorporated. Minor changes
to match version accepted by Physical Review
Spatial gradients in the cosmological constant
It is possible that there may be differences in the fundamental physical
parameters from one side of the observed universe to the other. I show that the
cosmological constant is likely to be the most sensitive of the physical
parameters to possible spatial variation, because a small variation in any of
the other parameters produces a huge variation of the cosmological constant. It
therefore provides a very powerful {\em indirect} evidence against spatial
gradients or temporal variation in the other fundamental physical parameters,
at least 40 orders of magnitude more powerful than direct experimental
constraints. Moreover, a gradient may potentially appear in theories where the
variability of the cosmological constant is connected to an anthropic selection
mechanism, invoked to explain the smallness of this parameter. In the Hubble
damping mechanism for anthropic selection, I calculate the possible gradient.
While this mechanism demonstrates the existence of this effect, it is too small
to be seen experimentally, except possibly if inflation happens around the
Planck scale.Comment: 12 page
Dynamics of Brane-World Cosmological Models
We show that generically the initial singularity is isotropic in spatially
homogeneous cosmological models in the brane-world scenario. We then argue that
it is plausible that the initial singularity is isotropic in typical brane
world cosmological models. Therefore, brane cosmology naturally gives rise to a
set of initial data that provide the conditions for inflation to subsequently
take place, thereby solving the initial conditions problem and leading to a
self--consistent and viable cosmology.Comment: Final version. To appear in Physical Revie
Why do we need a theory and metrics of technology upgrading?
This paper discusses why we need theory and metrics of technology upgrading. It critically reviews the existing approaches to technology upgrading and motivates build-up of theoretically relevant but empirically grounded middle level conceptual and statistical framework which could illuminate a type of challenges relevant for economies at different income levels. It conceptualizes technology upgrading as three dimensional processes composed of intensity and different types of technology upgrading through various types of innovation and technology activities; broadening of technology upgrading through different forms of technology and knowledge diversification, and interaction with global economy through knowledge import, adoption and exchange. We consider this to be necessary first step towards theory and metrics of technology upgrading and generation of more relevant composite indicator of technology upgrading
An Examination of Chimpanzee Use in Human Cancer Research
Advocates of chimpanzee research claim the genetic similarity of humans and chimpanzees make them an indispensable research tool to combat human diseases. Given that cancer is a leading cause of human death worldwide, one might expect that if chimpanzees were needed for, or were productive in, cancer research, then they would have been widely used. This comprehensive literature analysis reveals that chimpanzees have scarcely been used in any form of cancer research, and that chimpanzee tumours are extremely rare and biologically different from human cancers. Often, chimpanzee citations described peripheral use of chimpanzee cells and genetic material in predominantly human genomic studies. Papers describing potential new cancer therapies noted significant concerns regarding the chimpanzee model. Other studies described interventions that have not been pursued clinically. Finally, available evidence indicates that chimpanzees are not essential in the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. It would therefore be unscientific to claim that chimpanzees are vital to cancer research. On the contrary, it is reasonable to conclude that cancer research would not suffer, if the use of chimpanzees for this purpose were prohibited in the US. Genetic differences between humans and chimpanzees, make them an unsuitable model for cancer, as well as other human diseases
Impact of enterprise system modularity on process performance
Modularization and platform-based product development has been adopted in a variety of engineering disciplines. In the information system context modularity has been proposed as a means for increasing flexibility-to-change and process performance but no evidence has been provided and limited further analysis of this link could be observed. This Ph.D. project provides an empirical analysis of the relationship between the degree of modularity of an enterprise system and the performance of the supported business processes
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