1,479 research outputs found
Beta, Dipole and Noncommutative Deformations of M-theory Backgrounds with One or More Parameters
We construct new M-theory solutions starting from those that contain 5 U(1)
isometries. We do this by reducing along one of the 5-torus directions, then
T-dualizing via the action of an O(4,4) matrix and lifting back to
11-dimensions. The particular T-duality transformation is a sequence of O(2,2)
transformations embedded in O(4,4), where the action of each O(2,2) gives a
Lunin-Maldacena deformation in 10-dimensions. We find general formulas for the
metric and 4-form field of single and multiparameter deformed solutions, when
the 4-form of the initial 11-dimensional background has at most one leg along
the 5-torus. All the deformation terms in the new solutions are given in terms
of subdeterminants of a 5x5 matrix, which represents the metric on the 5-torus.
We apply these results to several M-theory backgrounds of the type AdS_r x
X^{11-r}. By appropriate choices of the T-duality and reduction directions we
obtain analogues of beta, dipole and noncommutative deformations. We also
provide formulas for backgrounds with only 3 or 4 U(1) isometries and study a
case, for which our assumption for the 4-form field is violated.Comment: v2:minor corrections, v3:small improvements, v4:conclusions expanded,
to appear in Class. Quant. Gra
Thermodynamics of Decaying Vacuum Cosmologies
The thermodynamic behavior of vacuum decaying cosmologies is investigated
within a manifestly covariant formulation. Such a process corresponds to a
continuous irreversible energy flow from the vacuum component to the created
matter constituents. It is shown that if the specific entropy per particle
remains constant during the process, the equilibrium relations are preserved.
In particular, if the vacuum decays into photons, the energy density and
average number density of photons scale with the temperature as and . The temperature law is determined and a generalized
Planckian type form of the spectrum, which is preserved in the course of the
evolution, is also proposed. Some consequences of these results for decaying
vacuum FRW type cosmologies as well as for models with ``adiabatic'' photon
creation are discussed.Comment: 21 pages, uses LATE
Geometrical Constraints on the Cosmological Constant
The cosmological constant problem is examined under the assumption that the
extrinsic curvature of the space-time contributes to the vacuum. A compensation
mechanism based on a variable cosmological term is proposed. Under a suitable
hypothesis on the behavior of the extrinsic curvature, we find that an
initially large rolls down rapidly to zero during the early stages
of the universe. Using perturbation analysis, it is shown that such vacuum
behaves essentially as a spin-2 field which is independent of the metric.Comment: [email protected], 17 pages, Latex, 2 figures obtained by reques
Another exact inflationary solution
A new closed-form inflationary solution is given for a hyperbolic interaction
potential. The method used to arrive at this solution is outlined as it appears
possible to generate additional sets of equations which satisfy the model. In
addition a new form of decaying cosmological constant is presented.Comment: 10 pages, 0 figure
Exact Black Hole and Cosmological Solutions in a Two-Dimensional Dilaton-Spectator Theory of Gravity
Exact black hole and cosmological solutions are obtained for a special
two-dimensional dilaton-spectator () theory of gravity. We show how
in this context any desired spacetime behaviour can be determined by an
appropriate choice of a dilaton potential function and a ``coupling
function'' in the action. We illustrate several black hole solutions
as examples. In particular, asymptotically flat double- and multiple- horizon
black hole solutions are obtained. One solution bears an interesting
resemblance to the string-theoretic black hole and contains the same
thermodynamic properties; another resembles the Reissner-Nordstrom
solution. We find two characteristic features of all the black hole solutions.
First the coupling constants in must be set equal to constants of
integration (typically the mass). Second, the spectator field and its
derivative both diverge at any event horizon. A test particle with
``spectator charge" ({\it i.e.} one coupled either to or ),
will therefore encounter an infinite tidal force at the horizon or an
``infinite potential barrier'' located outside the horizon respectively. We
also compute the Hawking temperature and entropy for our solutions. In
cosmology, two non-singular solutions which resemble two exact solutions
in string-motivated cosmology are obtained. In addition, we construct a
singular model which describes the standard non-inflationary big bang
cosmology (). Motivated by the
similaritiesbetween and gravitational field equations in
cosmology, we briefly discuss a special dilaton-spectator action
constructed from the bosonic part of the low energy heterotic string action andComment: 34 pgs. Plain Tex, revised version contains some clarifying comments
concerning the relationship between the constants of integration and the
coupling constants
Prognostic and Biologic Relevance of Clinically Applicable Long Noncoding RNA Profiling in Older Patients with Cytogenetically Normal Acute Myeloid Leukemia
We have previously shown that expression levels of 48 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) can generate a prognostic lncRNA score that independently associates with outcome of older patients with cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML). However, the techniques used to identify and measure prognostic lncRNAs (i.e., RNA sequencing and microarrays) are not tailored for clinical testing. Herein, we report on an assay (based on the nCounter platform) that is designed to produce targeted measurements of prognostic lncRNAs in a clinically applicable manner. We analyzed a new cohort of 76 older patients with CN-AML and found that the nCounter assay yielded reproducible measurements and that the lncRNA score retained its prognostic value; patients with high lncRNA scores had lower complete remission (CR) rates (P = 0.009; 58% vs. 87%), shorter disease-free (P = 0.05; 3-year rates: 0% vs. 21%), overall (OS; P = 0.02, 3-year rates: 10% vs. 29%), and event-free survival (EFS; P = 0.002, 3-year rates: 0% vs. 18%) than patients with low lncRNA scores. In multivariable analyses, the lncRNA score independently associated with CR rates (P = 0.02), OS (P = 0.02), and EFS (P = 0.02). To gain biological insights, we examined our initial cohort of 71 older patients with CN-AML, previously analyzed with RNA sequencing. Genes involved in immune response and B-cell receptor signaling were enriched in patients with high lncRNA scores. We conclude that clinically applicable lncRNA profiling is feasible and potentially useful for risk stratification of older patients with CN-AML. Furthermore, we identify potentially targetable molecular pathways that are active in the high-risk patients with high lncRNA scores
Diflunisal therapy for cardiac ATTR amyloidosis: a longitudinal, prospective, single centre study
Cosmic anti-friction and accelerated expansion
We explain an accelerated expansion of the present universe, suggested from
observations of supernovae of type Ia at high redshift, by introducing an
anti-frictional force that is self-consistently exerted on the particles of the
cosmic substratum. Cosmic anti-friction, which is intimately related to
``particle production'', is shown to give rise to an effective negative
pressure of the cosmic medium. While other explanations for an accelerated
expansion (cosmological constant, quintessence) introduce a component of dark
energy besides ``standard'' cold dark matter (CDM) we resort to a
phenomenological one-component model of CDM with internal self-interactions. We
demonstrate how the dynamics of the LambdaCDM model may be recovered as a
special case of cosmic anti-friction. We discuss the connection with
two-component models and obtain an attractor behavior for the ratio of the
energy densities of both components which provides a possible phenomenological
solution to the coincidence problem.Comment: 19 pages, 7 (3 new) figures, new derivation of kinetic equation with
force term, accepted by Physical Review
Cholesterol efflux promoting function of high-density lipoproteins in calcific aortic valve stenosis
Background and aims: Cholesterol efflux capacity is a functional property of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) reflecting the efficiency of the atheroprotective reverse cholesterol transport process in humans. Its relationship with calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) has not been fully assessed yet. Methods: We evaluated HDL-CEC in a patient population with varying degrees of aortic valvular calcific disease, assessed using echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography. Measurement of biomarkers that reflect osteogenic and tissue remodeling, along with dietary and gut microbiota-derived metabolites were performed. Results: Patients with moderate-severe CAVS had significantly lower HDL-CEC compared to both control and aortic sclerosis subjects (mean: 6.09%, 7.32% and 7.26%, respectively). HDL-CEC displayed negative correlations with peak aortic jet velocity and aortic valve calcium score, indexes of CAVS severity (Ï = -0.298, p = 0.002 and Ï = -0.358, p = 0.005, respectively). In multivariable regression model, HDL-CEC had independent association with aortic valve calcium score (B: -0.053, SE: 0.014, p < 0.001), GFR (B: -0.034, SE: 0.012, p = 0.007), as well as with levels of total cholesterol (B: 0.018, SE: 0.005, p = 0.002). Conclusion: These results indicate an impairment of HDL-CEC in moderate-severe CAVS and may contribute to identify potential novel targets for CAVS management
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