On the stability of field-theoretical regularizations of negative tension branes

Any attempt to regularize a negative tension brane through a bulk scalar requires that this field is a ghost. One can try to improve in this aspect in a number of ways. For instance, it has been suggested to employ a field whose kinetic term is not sign definite, in the hope that the background may be overall stable. We show that this is not the case; the physical perturbations (gravity included) of the system do not extend across the zeros of the kinetic term; hence, all the modes are entirely localized either where the kinetic term is positive, or where it is negative; this second type of modes are ghosts. We show that this conclusion does not depend on the specific choice for the kinetic and potential functions for the bulk scalar.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Sensitivity of 8B breakup cross section to projectile structure in CDCC calculations

Given the Astrophysical interest of $^7$Be$(p,\gamma)^8$B, there have been several experiments applying the Coulomb dissociation method for extracting the capture rate. Measurements at Michigan State are dominated by $E1$ contributions but have a small $E2$ component. On the other hand, a lower energy measurement at Notre Dame has a much stronger $E2$ contribution. The expectation was that the two measurements would tie down the $E2$ and thus allow for an accurate extraction of the $E1$ relevant for the capture process. The aim of this brief report is to show that the $E2$ factor in breakup reactions does not translate into a scaling of the $E2$ contribution in the corresponding capture reaction. We show that changes to the $^8$B single particle parameters, which are directly related to the $E2$ component in the capture reaction, do not effect the corresponding breakup reactions, using the present reaction theory.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, revtex

Extracting (n,g) direct capture cross sections from Coulomb dissociation: application to 14^{14}C(n,γ\gamma)15^{15}C

A methodology for extracting neutron direct capture rates from Coulomb dissociation data is developed and applied to the Coulomb dissociation of 15C on 208Pb at 68 MeV/nucleon. Full Continuum Discretized Coupled Channel calculations are performed and an asymptotic normalization coefficient is determined from a fit to the breakup data. Direct neutron capture calculations using the extracted asymptotic normalization coefficient provide $(n,\gamma)$ cross sections consistent with direct measurements. Our results show that the Coulomb Dissociation data can be reliably used for extracting the cross section for 14C(n,g)15C if the appropriate reaction theory is used. The resulting error bars are of comparable magnitude to those from the direct measurement. This procedure can be used more generally to extract capture cross sections from breakup reactions whenever the desired capture process is fully peripheral.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. C (R

Unclassified autoimmune pancreatitis mimicking pancreatic cancer

A 24-year-old black male presented with a 1-week obstructive jaundice and intermittent abdominal pain, with no significant weight loss and an unsuspicious abdominal exam. Blood chemistry showed a cholestatic pattern but a complete immunological and tumoral panel (anti-smooth muscle antibody, anti-mitochondrial antibody, anti-nuclear antibody, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, anti-Smith, anti-double-stranded-DNA antibody (anti-dsDNA), complement C3/C4, carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 19-9 and IgG4) were all within normal limits. Abdominal ultrasound revealed dilatation of the intra and extra-hepatic bile ducts. CT scan showed an abnormal dilatation of the distal bile duct but no focal enlargement of the head of the pancreas. Endoscopic ultrasound suggested an inflammatory process but the magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography favored a neoplastic obstruction of the distal common bile duct. Fine-needle aspiration cytology was insufficient for definitive diagnosis and the patient underwent major surgery. Follow-up with mild exocrine pancreatic insufficiency treated with enzyme replacement.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio