2,891 research outputs found
Wavefunctions and the Point of E8 in F-theory
In F-theory GUTs interactions between fields are typically localised at
points of enhanced symmetry in the internal dimensions implying that the
coefficient of the associated operator can be studied using a local
wavefunctions overlap calculation. Some F-theory SU(5) GUT theories may exhibit
a maximum symmetry enhancement at a point to E8, and in this case all the
operators of the theory can be associated to the same point. We take initial
steps towards the study of operators in such theories. We calculate
wavefunctions and their overlaps around a general point of enhancement and
establish constraints on the local form of the fluxes. We then apply the
general results to a simple model at a point of E8 enhancement and calculate
some example operators such as Yukawa couplings and dimension-five couplings
that can lead to proton decay.Comment: 46 page
Role of the Single-Stranded DNA–Binding Protein SsbB in Pneumococcal Transformation: Maintenance of a Reservoir for Genetic Plasticity
Bacteria encode a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein (SSB) crucial for genome maintenance. In Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus pneumoniae, an alternative SSB, SsbB, is expressed uniquely during competence for genetic transformation, but its precise role has been disappointingly obscure. Here, we report our investigations involving comparison of a null mutant (ssbB−) and a C-ter truncation (ssbBΔ7) of SsbB of S. pneumoniae, the latter constructed because SSBs' acidic tail has emerged as a key site for interactions with partner proteins. We provide evidence that SsbB directly protects internalized ssDNA. We show that SsbB is highly abundant, potentially allowing the binding of ∼1.15 Mb ssDNA (half a genome equivalent); that it participates in the processing of ssDNA into recombinants; and that, at high DNA concentration, it is of crucial importance for chromosomal transformation whilst antagonizing plasmid transformation. While the latter observation explains a long-standing observation that plasmid transformation is very inefficient in S. pneumoniae (compared to chromosomal transformation), the former supports our previous suggestion that SsbB creates a reservoir of ssDNA, allowing successive recombination cycles. SsbBΔ7 fulfils the reservoir function, suggesting that SsbB C-ter is not necessary for processing protein(s) to access stored ssDNA. We propose that the evolutionary raison d'être of SsbB and its abundance is maintenance of this reservoir, which contributes to the genetic plasticity of S. pneumoniae by increasing the likelihood of multiple transformation events in the same cell
Changes in iron-regulatory gene expression occur in human cell culture models of Parkinson's disease.
BACKGROUND: Neuronal iron accumulation is thought to be relevant to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), although the mechanism remains elusive. We hypothesized that neuronal iron uptake may be stimulated by functional mitochondrial iron deficiency. OBJECTIVE: To determine firstly whether the mitochondrial toxin, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium iodide (MPP(+)), results in upregulation of iron-import proteins and transporters of iron into the mitochondria, and secondly whether similar changes in expression are induced by toxins with different mechanisms of action. METHODS: We used quantitative PCR and Western blotting to investigate expression of the iron importers, divalent metal transporter, transferrin receptor 1 and 2 (TfR1 and TfR2) and mitoferrin-2 and the iron exporter ferroportin in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells exposed to three different toxins relevant to PD, MPP(+), paraquat (a free radical generator) and lactacystin (an inhibitor of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS)). RESULTS: MPP(+) resulted in increased mRNA and protein levels of genes involved in cellular iron import and transport into the mitochondria. Similar changes occurred following exposure to paraquat, another inducer of oxidative stress. Lactacystin also resulted in increased TfR1 mRNA levels, although the other changes were not found. CONCLUSION: Our results support the hypothesis of a functional mitochondrial iron deficit driving neuronal iron uptake but also suggest that differences exist in neuronal iron handling induced by different toxins
Novel Branches of (0,2) Theories
We show that recently proposed linear sigma models with torsion can be
obtained from unconventional branches of conventional gauge theories. This
observation puts models with log interactions on firm footing. If non-anomalous
multiplets are integrated out, the resulting low-energy theory involves log
interactions of neutral fields. For these cases, we find a sigma model geometry
which is both non-toric and includes brane sources. These are heterotic sigma
models with branes. Surprisingly, there are massive models with compact complex
non-Kahler target spaces, which include brane/anti-brane sources. The simplest
conformal models describe wrapped heterotic NS5-branes. We present examples of
both types.Comment: 36 pages, LaTeX, 2 figures; typo in Appendix fixed; references added
and additional minor change
Abelian Gauge Fluxes and Local Models in F-Theory
We analyze the Abelian gauge fluxes in local F-theory models with G_S=SU(6)
and SO(10). For the case of G_S=SO(10), there is a no-go theorem which states
that for an exotic-free spectrum, there are no solutions for U(1)^2 gauge
fluxes. We explicitly construct the U(1)^2 gauge fluxes with an exotic-free
bulk spectrum for the case of G_S=SU(6). We also analyze the conditions for the
curves supporting the given field content and discuss non-minimal spectra of
the MSSM with doublet-triplet splitting.Comment: 43 pages, 15 tables; typos corrected, reference adde
The Intermediate Scale MSSM, the Higgs Mass and F-theory Unification
Even if SUSY is not present at the Electro-Weak scale, string theory suggests
its presence at some scale M_{SS} below the string scale M_s to guarantee the
absence of tachyons. We explore the possible value of M_{SS} consistent with
gauge coupling unification and known sources of SUSY breaking in string theory.
Within F-theory SU(5) unification these two requirements fix M_{SS} ~ 5 x
10^{10} GeV at an intermediate scale and a unification scale M_c ~ 3 x 10^{14}
GeV. As a direct consequence one also predicts the vanishing of the quartic
Higgs SM self-coupling at M_{SS} ~10^{11} GeV. This is tantalizingly consistent
with recent LHC hints of a Higgs mass in the region 124-126 GeV. With such a
low unification scale M_c ~ 3 x 10^{14} GeV one may worry about too fast proton
decay via dimension 6 operators. However in the F-theory GUT context SU(5) is
broken to the SM via hypercharge flux. We show that this hypercharge flux
deforms the SM fermion wave functions leading to a suppression, avoiding in
this way the strong experimental proton decay constraints. In these
constructions there is generically an axion with a scale of size f_a ~
M_c/(4\pi)^2 ~ 10^{12} GeV which could solve the strong CP problem and provide
for the observed dark matter. The prize to pay for these attractive features is
to assume that the hierarchy problem is solved due to anthropic selection in a
string landscape.Comment: 48 pages, 8 figures. v3: further minor correction
On Global Flipped SU(5) GUTs in F-theory
We construct an SU(4) spectral divisor and its factorization of types (3,1)
and (2,2) based on the construction proposed in [1]. We calculate the chiral
spectra of flipped SU(5) GUTs by using the spectral divisor construction. The
results agree with those from the analysis of semi-local spectral covers. Our
computations provide an example for the validity of the spectral divisor
construction and suggest that the standard heterotic formulae are applicable to
the case of F-theory on an elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau fourfold with no
heterotic dual.Comment: 45 pages, 12 tables, 1 figure; typos corrected, footnotes added, and
a reference adde
Flipped SU(5) GUTs from E_8 Singularities in F-theory
In this paper we construct supersymmetric flipped SU(5) GUTs from E_8
singularities in F-theory. We start from an SO(10) singularity unfolded from an
E_8 singularity by using an SU(4) spectral cover. To obtain realistic models,
we consider (3,1) and (2,2) factorizations of the SU(4) cover. After turning on
the massless U(1)_X gauge flux, we obtain the SU(5) X U(1)_X gauge group. Based
on the well-studied geometric backgrounds in the literature, we demonstrate
several models and discuss their phenomenology.Comment: 46 pages, 23 tables, 1 figure, typos corrected, references added, and
new examples presente
Emerging Non-Anomalous Baryonic Symmetries in the AdS_5/CFT_4 Correspondence
We study the breaking of baryonic symmetries in the AdS_5/CFT_4
correspondence for D3 branes at Calabi-Yau three-fold singularities. This
leads, for particular VEVs, to the emergence of non-anomalous baryonic
symmetries during the renormalization group flow. We claim that these VEVs
correspond to critical values of the B-field moduli in the dual supergravity
backgrounds. We study in detail the C^3/Z_3 orbifold, the cone over F_0 and the
C^3/Z_5 orbifold. For the first two examples, we study the dual supergravity
backgrounds that correspond to the breaking of the emerging baryonic symmetries
and identify the expected Goldstone bosons and global strings in the infra-red.
In doing so we confirm the claim that the emerging symmetries are indeed
non-anomalous baryonic symmetries.Comment: 65 pages, 15 figures;v2: minor changes, published versio
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