128 research outputs found
A Simple Explanation for DAMA with Moderate Channeling
We consider the possibility that the DAMA signal arises from channeled events
in simple models where the dark matter interaction with nuclei is suppressed at
small momenta. As with the standard WIMP, these models have two parameters (the
dark matter mass and the size of the cross-section), without the need to
introduce an additional energy threshold type of parameter. We find that they
can be consistent with channeling fractions as low as about ~ 15%, so long as
at least ~70% of the nuclear recoil energy for channeled events is deposited
electronically. Given that there are reasons not to expect very large
channeling fractions, these scenarios make the channeling explanation of DAMA
much more compelling.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure
The Intermediate Higgs
Two paradigms for the origin of electroweak superconductivity are a weakly
coupled scalar condensate, and a strongly coupled fermion condensate. The
former suffers from a finetuning problem unless there are cancelations to
radiative corrections, while the latter presents potential discrepancies with
precision electroweak physics. Here we present a framework for electroweak
symmetry breaking which interpolates between these two paradigms, and mitigates
their faults. As in Little Higgs theories, the Higgs is a pseudo-Nambu
Goldstone boson, potentially composite. The cutoff sensitivity of the one loop
top quark contribution to the effective potential is canceled by contributions
from additional vector-like quarks, and the cutoff can naturally be higher than
in the minimal Standard Model. Unlike the Little Higgs models, the cutoff
sensitivity from one loop gauge contributions is not canceled. However, such
gauge contributions are naturally small as long as the cutoff is below 6 TeV.
Precision electroweak corrections are suppressed relative to those of
Technicolor or generic Little Higgs theories. In some versions of the
intermediate scenario, the Higgs mass is computable in terms of the masses of
these additional fermions and the Nambu-Goldstone Boson decay constant. In
addition to the Higgs, new scalar and pseudoscalar particles are typically
present at the weak scale
Generalizations of entanglement based on coherent states and convex sets
Unentangled pure states on a bipartite system are exactly the coherent states
with respect to the group of local transformations. What aspects of the study
of entanglement are applicable to generalized coherent states? Conversely, what
can be learned about entanglement from the well-studied theory of coherent
states? With these questions in mind, we characterize unentangled pure states
as extremal states when considered as linear functionals on the local Lie
algebra. As a result, a relativized notion of purity emerges, showing that
there is a close relationship between purity, coherence and (non-)entanglement.
To a large extent, these concepts can be defined and studied in the even more
general setting of convex cones of states. Based on the idea that entanglement
is relative, we suggest considering these notions in the context of partially
ordered families of Lie algebras or convex cones, such as those that arise
naturally for multipartite systems. The study of entanglement includes notions
of local operations and, for information-theoretic purposes, entanglement
measures and ways of scaling systems to enable asymptotic developments. We
propose ways in which these may be generalized to the Lie-algebraic setting,
and to a lesser extent to the convex-cones setting. One of our original
motivations for this program is to understand the role of entanglement-like
concepts in condensed matter. We discuss how our work provides tools for
analyzing the correlations involved in quantum phase transitions and other
aspects of condensed-matter systems.Comment: 37 page
The credibility challenge for global fluvial flood risk analysis
Quantifying flood hazard is an essential component of resilience planning, emergency response, and mitigation, including insurance. Traditionally undertaken at catchment and national scales, recently, efforts have intensified to estimate flood risk globally to better allow consistent and equitable decision making. Global flood hazard models are now a practical reality, thanks to improvements in numerical algorithms, global datasets, computing power, and coupled modelling frameworks. Outputs of these models are vital for consistent quantification of global flood risk and in projecting the impacts of climate change. However, the urgency of these tasks means that outputs are being used as soon as they are made available and before such methods have been adequately tested. To address this, we compare multi-probability flood hazard maps for Africa from six global models and show wide variation in their flood hazard, economic loss and exposed population estimates, which has serious implications for model credibility. While there is around 30-40% agreement in flood extent, our results show that even at continental scales, there are significant differences in hazard magnitude and spatial pattern between models, notably in deltas, arid/semi-arid zones and wetlands. This study is an important step towards a better understanding of modelling global flood hazard, which is urgently required for both current risk and climate change projections
Nonproductive exposure of PBMCs to SARS‐CoV ‐2 induces cell‐intrinsic innate immune responses
Cell-intrinsic responses mounted in PBMCs during mild and severe COVID-19 differ quantitatively and qualitatively. Whether they are triggered by signals emitted by productively infected cells of the respiratory tract or result from physical interaction with virus particles remains unclear. Here, we analyzed susceptibility and expression profiles of PBMCs from healthy donors upon ex vivo exposure to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. In line with the absence of detectable ACE2 receptor expression, human PBMCs were refractory to productive infection. RT-PCR experiments and single-cell RNA sequencing revealed JAK/STAT-dependent induction of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) but not proinflammatory cytokines. This SARS-CoV-2-specific response was most pronounced in monocytes. SARS-CoV-2-RNA-positive monocytes displayed a lower ISG signature as compared to bystander cells of the identical culture. This suggests a preferential invasion of cells with a low ISG baseline profile or delivery of a SARS-CoV-2-specific sensing antagonist upon efficient particle internalization. Together, nonproductive physical interaction of PBMCs with SARS-CoV-2- and, to a much lesser extent, SARS-CoV particles stimulate JAK/STAT-dependent, monocyte-accentuated innate immune responses that resemble those detected in vivo in patients with mild COVID-19
The significance of PTEN and AKT aberrations in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Background PI3K/AKT pathway mutations are found in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but their overall impact and associations with other genetic aberrations is unknown. PTEN mutations have been proposed as secondary mutations that follow NOTCH1-activating mutations and cause cellular resistance to γ-secretase inhibitors. Design and Methods The impact of PTEN, PI3K and AKT aberrations was studied in a genetically well-characterized pediatric T-cell leukemia patient cohort (n=146) treated on DCOG or COALL protocols. Results PTEN and AKT E17K aberrations were detected in 13% and 2% of patients, respectively. Defective PTEN-splicing was identified in incidental cases. Patients without PTEN protein but lacking exon-, splice-, promoter mutations or promoter hypermethylation were present. PTEN/AKTmutations were especially abundant in TAL- or LMO-rearranged leukemia but nearly absent in TLX3-rearranged patients (P=0.03), the opposite to that observed for NOTCH1- activating mutations. Most PTEN/AKT mutant patients either lacked NOTCH1-activating mutations (P=0.006) or had weak NOTCH1-activating mutations (P=0.011), and consequently expressed low intracellular NOTCH1, cMYC and MUSASHI levels. T-cell leukemia patients without PTEN/AKT and NOTCH1-activating mutations fared well, with a cumulative incidence of relapse of only 8% versus 35% for PTEN/AKT and/or NOTCH1-activated patients (P=0.005). Conclusions PI3K/AKT pathway aberrations are present in 18% of pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Absence of strong NOTCH1-activating mutations in these cases may explain cellular insensitivity to γ-secretase inhibitors
Endosonography With or Without Confirmatory Mediastinoscopy for Resectable Lung Cancer:A Randomized Clinical Trial
PURPOSE:Resectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a high probability of mediastinal nodal involvement requires mediastinal staging by endosonography and, in the absence of nodal metastases, confirmatory mediastinoscopy according to current guidelines. However, randomized data regarding immediate lung tumor resection after systematic endosonography versus additional confirmatory mediastinoscopy before resection are lacking.METHODS:Patients with (suspected) resectable NSCLC and an indication for mediastinal staging after negative systematic endosonography were randomly assigned to immediate lung tumor resection or confirmatory mediastinoscopy followed by tumor resection. The primary outcome in this noninferiority trial (noninferiority margin of 8% that previously showed to not compromise survival, Pnoninferior <.0250) was the presence of unforeseen N2 disease after tumor resection with lymph node dissection. Secondary outcomes were 30-day major morbidity and mortality.RESULTS:Between July 17, 2017, and October 5, 2020, 360 patients were randomly assigned, 178 to immediate lung tumor resection (seven dropouts) and 182 to confirmatory mediastinoscopy first (seven dropouts before and six after mediastinoscopy). Mediastinoscopy detected metastases in 8.0% (14/175; 95% CI, 4.8 to 13.0) of patients. Unforeseen N2 rate after immediate resection (8.8%) was noninferior compared with mediastinoscopy first (7.7%) in both intention-to-treat (Δ, 1.03%; UL 95% CIΔ, 7.2%; Pnoninferior =.0144) and per-protocol analyses (Δ, 0.83%; UL 95% CIΔ, 7.3%; Pnoninferior =.0157). Major morbidity and 30-day mortality was 12.9% after immediate resection versus 15.4% after mediastinoscopy first (P =.4940).CONCLUSION:On the basis of our chosen noninferiority margin in the rate of unforeseen N2, confirmatory mediastinoscopy after negative systematic endosonography can be omitted in patients with resectable NSCLC and an indication for mediastinal staging.</p
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