53 research outputs found
Bouncing Brane Cosmologies from Warped String Compactifications
We study the cosmology induced on a brane probing a warped throat region in a
Calabi-Yau compactification of type IIB string theory. For the case of a BPS
D3-brane probing the Klebanov-Strassler warped deformed conifold, the cosmology
described by a suitable brane observer is a bouncing, spatially flat
Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe with time-varying Newton's constant, which
passes smoothly from a contracting to an expanding phase. In the
Klebanov-Tseytlin approximation to the Klebanov-Strassler solution the
cosmology would end with a big crunch singularity. In this sense, the warped
deformed conifold provides a string theory resolution of a spacelike
singularity in the brane cosmology. The four-dimensional effective action
appropriate for a brane observer is a simple scalar-tensor theory of gravity.
In this description of the physics, a bounce is possible because the relevant
energy-momentum tensor can classically violate the null energy condition.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figures; v2, references added and minor correction
Hole-doping dependence of percolative phase separation in Pr_(0.5-delta)Ca_(0.2+delta)Sr_(0.3)MnO_(3) around half doping
We address the problem of the percolative phase separation in polycrystalline
samples of PrCaSrMnO for (hole doping between 0.46 and 0.54). We perform
measurements of X-ray diffraction, dc magnetization, ESR, and electrical
resistivity. These samples show at a paramagnetic (PM) to ferromagnetic
(FM) transition, however, we found that for there is a coexistence of
both of these phases below . On lowering below the charge-ordering
(CO) temperature all the samples exhibit a coexistence between the FM
metallic and CO (antiferromagnetic) phases. In the whole range the FM phase
fraction () decreases with increasing . Furthermore, we show that only
for the metallic fraction is above the critical percolation
threshold . As a consequence, these samples show very
different magnetoresistance properties. In addition, for we
observe a percolative metal-insulator transition at , and for
the insulating-like behavior generated by the enlargement of
with increasing is well described by the percolation law , where is a critical exponent. On the basis of
the values obtained for this exponent we discuss different possible percolation
mechanisms, and suggest that a more deep understanding of geometric and
dimensionality effects is needed in phase separated manganites. We present a
complete vs phase diagram showing the magnetic and electric properties
of the studied compound around half doping.Comment: 9 text pages + 12 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Open string amplitudes and large order behavior in topological string theory
We propose a formalism inspired by matrix models to compute open and closed
topological string amplitudes in the B-model on toric Calabi-Yau manifolds. We
find closed expressions for various open string amplitudes beyond the disk, and
in particular we write down the annulus amplitude in terms of theta functions
on a Riemann surface. We test these ideas on local curves and local surfaces,
providing in this way generating functionals for open Gromov-Witten invariants
in the spirit of mirror symmetry. In the case of local curves, we study the
open string sector near the critical point which leads to 2d gravity, and we
show that toric D-branes become FZZT branes in a double-scaling limit. We use
this connection to compute non-perturbative instanton effects due to D-branes
that control the large order behavior of topological string theory on these
backgroundsComment: 40 pages, 5 figures, v3: further clarifications and references adde
Efficacy of standard and low dose hydrochlorothiazide in the recurrence prevention of calcium nephrolithiasis (NOSTONE trial): protocol for a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
Nephrolithiasis is a global healthcare problem with a current lifetime risk of 18.8% in men and 9.4% in women. Given the high cost of medical treatments and surgical interventions as well as the morbidity related to symptomatic stone disease, medical prophylaxis for stone recurrence is an attractive approach. Thiazide diuretics have been the cornerstone of pharmacologic metaphylaxis for more than 40 years. However, evidence for benefits and harms of thiazides in the prevention of calcium containing kidney stones in general remains unclear. In addition, the efficacy of the currently employed low dose thiazide regimens to prevent stone recurrence is not known.
The NOSTONE trial is an investigator-initiated 3-year prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of standard and low dose hydrochlorothiazide treatment in the recurrence prevention of calcium containing kidney stones. We plan to include 416 adult (≥ 18 years) patients with recurrent (≥ 2 stone episodes in the last 10 years) calcium containing kidney stones (containing ≥50% of calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate or a mixture of both). Patients will be randomly allocated to 50 mg or 25 mg or 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide or placebo. The primary outcome will be incidence of stone recurrence (a composite of symptomatic or radiologic recurrence). Secondary outcomes will be individual components of the composite primary outcome, safety and tolerability of hydrochlorothiazide treatment, changes in urinary biochemistry elicited by hydrochlorothiazide treatment and impact of baseline disease severity, biochemical abnormalities and stone composition on treatment response.
The NOSTONE study will provide long-sought information on the efficacy of hydrochlorothiazide in the recurrence prevention of calcium containing kidney stones. Strengths of the study include the randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled design, the large amount of patients studied, the employment of high sensitivity and high specificity imaging and the exclusive public funding support.
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03057431 . Registered on February 20 2017
Emerging application of stereotactic body radiation therapy for gynecologic malignancies
10.1586/era.11.81Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy1171069-1075ERAT
Resistive switchings in perovskite compounds with memory effect: Study of metastable states of heterocontacts formed by a normal metal and doped manganite single crystal
Emerging applications of stereotactic body radiation therapy for head and neck cancer
10.1586/era.11.110Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy1191429-1436ERAT
The role of local therapy in the management of lung and liver oligometastases
10.1038/nrclinonc.2011.75Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology87405-41
Serious Complications Associated with Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy and Strategies to Mitigate the Risk
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