Wrapped M2/M5 Duality

A microscopic accounting of the entropy of a generic 5D supersymmetric rotating black hole, arising from wrapped M2-branes in Calabi-Yau compactified M-theory, is an outstanding unsolved problem. In this paper we consider an expansion around the zero-entropy, zero-temperature, maximally rotating ground state for which the angular momentum J_L and graviphoton charge Q are related by J_L^2=Q^3. At J_L=0 the near horizon geometry is AdS_2 x S^3. As J_L^2 goes to Q^3 it becomes a singular quotient of AdS_3 x S^2: more precisely, a quotient of the near horizon geometry of an M5 wrapped on a 4-cycle whose self-intersection is the 2-cycle associated to the wrapped-M2 black hole. The singularity of the AdS_3 quotient is identified as the usual one associated to the zero-temperature limit, suggesting that the (0,4) wrapped-M5 CFT is dual near maximality to the wrapped-M2 black hole. As evidence for this, the microscopic (0,4) CFT entropy and the macroscopic rotating black hole entropy are found to agree to leading order away from maximality.Comment: 10 pages, no figure

Role of the cyclic lipopeptide massetolide A in biological control of Phytophthora infestans and in colonization of tomato plants by Pseudomonas fluorescens

Pseudomonas strains have shown promising results in biological control of late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans. However, the mechanism(s) and metabolites involved are in many cases poorly understood. Here, the role of the cyclic lipopeptide massetolide A of Pseudomonas fluorescens SS101 in biocontrol of tomato late blight was examined. Pseudomonas fluorescens SS101 was effective in preventing infection of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) leaves by P. infestans and significantly reduced the expansion of existing late blight lesions. Massetolide A was an important component of the activity of P. fluorescens SS101, since the massA-mutant was significantly less effective in biocontrol, and purified massetolide A provided significant control of P. infestans, both locally and systemically via induced resistance. Assays with nahG transgenic plants indicated that the systemic resistance response induced by SS101 or massetolide A was independent of salicylic acid signalling. Strain SS101 colonized the roots of tomato seedlings significantly better than its massA-mutant, indicating that massetolide A was an important trait in plant colonization. This study shows that the cyclic lipopeptide surfactant massetolide A is a metabolite with versatile functions in the ecology of P fluorescens SS101 and in interactions with tomato plants and the late blight pathogen P. infestans

Building community capacity to stimulate physical activity and dietary behavior in Dutch secondary schools:Evaluation of the FLASH intervention using the REAIM framework

BackgroundBuilding community capacity in secondary schools is a promising strategy for the sustainable implementation of school-based health promotion. The Fit Lifestyle at School and at Home (FLASH) intervention explored how building community capacity works for the prevention of overweight following four strategies: leadership, participatory school culture, tailored health-promotion activities, and local networks. This study evaluates the intervention's impact on community capacity and capacity-building processes over a period of 3 years, as well as its effects on adolescents' BMI and waist circumference. MethodsA mixed-methods design guided by the RE-AIM framework was used. Impact on community capacity was evaluated with semi-structured interviews at the start and end of the intervention and analyzed using an anchored coding scale. Capacity-building processes were evaluated using interviews, journals, questionnaires, and the minutes of meetings. The effects on BMI z-scores and waist circumference were evaluated using a quasi-experimental design comparing an intervention (IG) and reference group (RG), based on multi-level analyses. ResultsCommunity capacity improved across all intervention schools but varied between capacity-building strategies. Leadership recorded the greatest improvements, aided by the appointment of Healthy School Coordinators, who increasingly focused on coordinating processes and fostering collaborations. Participatory school culture also improved through the adoption and implementation of participatory methods and a general increase in awareness concerning the importance of the Healthy School approach. Although additional health-promotion activities were implemented, stakeholders struggled with tailoring these to the specific dynamics of their schools. Limited improvements were observed in setting-up local networks that could help schools encourage healthy behavior among pupils. Differences in BMI z-scores between IG and RG over the total sample were negligible whereas waist circumference increased slightly more in IG (0.99 cm, 95% CI [.04; 1.93]). However, differences were inconsistent over time and between cohorts. ConclusionsThis study highlights the potential of building community capacity. It emphasizes that this is a process in which stakeholders must become acquainted with new leadership roles and responsibilities. To navigate this process, schools need support in improving communication, establishing local networks, and sustaining capacity-building efforts in school policy

Endoscopic and surgical treatment outcomes of colitis-associated advanced colorectal neoplasia:a multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are at increased risk of advanced neoplasia (high-grade dysplasia or colorectal cancer). The authors aimed to (1) assess synchronous and metachronous neoplasia following (sub)total or proctocolectomy, partial colectomy or endoscopic resection for advanced neoplasia in IBD, and (2) identify factors associated with treatment choice.MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective multicenter cohort study, the authors used the Dutch nationwide pathology databank (PALGA) to identify patients diagnosed with IBD and colonic advanced neoplasia (AN) between 1991 and 2020 in seven hospitals in the Netherlands. Logistic and Fine &amp; Gray's subdistribution hazard models were used to assess adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios for metachronous neoplasia and associations with treatment choice.RESULTS: The authors included 189 patients (high-grade dysplasia n =81; colorectal cancer n =108). Patients were treated with proctocolectomy ( n =33), (sub)total colectomy ( n =45), partial colectomy ( n =56) and endoscopic resection ( n =38). Partial colectomy was more frequently performed in patients with limited disease and older age, with similar patient characteristics between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Synchronous neoplasia was found in 43 patients (25.0%; (sub)total or proctocolectomy n =22, partial colectomy n =8, endoscopic resection n =13). The authors found a metachronous neoplasia rate of 6.1, 11.5 and 13.7 per 100 patient-years after (sub)total colectomy, partial colectomy and endoscopic resection, respectively. Endoscopic resection, but not partial colectomy, was associated with an increased metachronous neoplasia risk (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios 4.16, 95% CI 1.64-10.54, P &lt;0.01) compared with (sub)total colectomy.CONCLUSION: After confounder adjustment, partial colectomy yielded a similar metachronous neoplasia risk compared to (sub)total colectomy. High metachronous neoplasia rates after endoscopic resection underline the importance of strict subsequent endoscopic surveillance.</p

Cargese lectures on string theory with eight supercharges

These lectures give an introduction to the interrelated topics of Calabi-Yau compactification of the type II string, black hole attractors, the all-orders entropy formula, the dual (0,4) CFT, topological strings and the OSV conjecture. Based on notes by MG of lectures by AS at the 2006 Cargese summer school.Comment: 30 pp, 7 figures, based on lecture notes by A. Strominger at the 2006 Cargese summer schoo

Kerr/CFT, dipole theories and nonrelativistic CFTs

We study solutions of type IIB supergravity which are SL(2,R) x SU(2) x U(1)^2 invariant deformations of AdS_3 x S^3 x K3 and take the form of products of self-dual spacelike warped AdS_3 and a deformed three-sphere. One of these backgrounds has been recently argued to be relevant for a derivation of Kerr/CFT from string theory, whereas the remaining ones are holographic duals of two-dimensional dipole theories and their S-duals. We show that each of these backgrounds is holographically dual to a deformation of the DLCQ of the D1-D5 CFT by a specific supersymmetric (1,2) operator, which we write down explicitly in terms of twist operators at the free orbifold point. The deforming operator is argued to be exactly marginal with respect to the zero-dimensional nonrelativistic conformal (or Schroedinger) group - which is simply SL(2,R)_L x U(1)_R. Moreover, in the supergravity limit of large N and strong coupling, no other single-trace operators are turned on. We thus propose that the field theory duals to the backgrounds of interest are nonrelativistic CFTs defined by adding the single Schroedinger-invariant (1,2) operator mentioned above to the original CFT action. Our analysis indicates that the rotating extremal black holes we study are best thought of as finite right-moving temperature (non-supersymmetric) states in the above-defined supersymmetric nonrelativistic CFT and hints towards a more general connection between Kerr/CFT and two-dimensional non-relativistic CFTs.Comment: 48+8 pages, 4 figures; minor corrections and references adde

Correction: Whole-blood expression of inflammasome- and glucocorticoid-related mRNAs correctly separates treatment-resistant depressed patients from drug-free and responsive patients in the BIODEP study

We have corrected this Article post-publication, because Dr. Cattaneo’s affiliation details were originally incorrect (she was affiliated with three institutions but is in fact only linked to one: Biological Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia). These changes reflect in both the PDF and HTML versions of this Article

Cost-effectiveness of ward-based pharmacy care in surgical patients: protocol of the SUREPILL (Surgery & Pharmacy In Liaison) study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Preventable adverse drug events (pADEs) are widely known to be a health care issue for hospitalized patients. Surgical patients are especially at risk, but prevention of pADEs in this population is not demonstrated before. Ward-based pharmacy interventions seem effective in reducing pADEs in medical patients. The cost-effectiveness of these preventive efforts still needs to be assessed in a comparative study of high methodological standard and also in the surgical population. For these aims the SUREPILL (Surgery & Pharmacy in Liaison) study is initiated.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>A multi-centre controlled trial, with randomisation at ward-level and preceding baseline assessments is designed. Patients admitted to the surgical study wards for elective surgery with an expected length of stay of more than 48 hours will be included. Patients admitted to the intervention ward, will receive ward-based pharmacy care from the clinical pharmacy team, i.e. pharmacy practitioners and hospital pharmacists. This ward-based pharmacy intervention includes medication reconciliation in consultation with the patient at admission, daily medication review with face-to-face contact with the ward doctor, and patient counselling at discharge. Patients admitted in the control ward, will receive standard pharmaceutical care.</p> <p>The primary clinical outcome measure is the number of pADEs per 100 elective admissions. These pADEs will be measured by systematic patient record evaluation using a trigger tool. Patient records positive for a trigger will be evaluated on causality, severity and preventability by an independent expert panel. In addition, an economic evaluation will be performed from a societal perspective with the costs per preventable ADE as the primary economic outcome. Other outcomes of this study are: severity of pADEs, number of patients with pADEs per total number of admissions, direct (non-)medical costs and indirect non-medical costs, extra costs per prevented ADE, number and type of pharmacy interventions, length of hospital stay, complications registered in a national complication registration system for surgery, number of readmissions within three months after initial admission (follow-up), quality of life and number of non-institutionalized days during follow-up.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study will assess the cost-effectiveness of ward-based pharmacy care on preventable adverse drug events in surgical patients from a societal perspective, using a comparative study design.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Netherlands Trial Register (NTR): <a href="http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=2258">NTR2258</a></p