M-Theory in the Gaugeon Formalism

In this paper we will analyse the Aharony-Bergman-Jafferis-Maldacena (ABJM) theory in $\mathcal{N}=1$ superspace formalism. We then study the quantum gauge transformations for this ABJM theory in gaugeon formalism. We will also analyse the extended BRST symmetry for this ABJM theory in gaugeon formalism and show that these BRST transformations for this theory are nilpotent and this in turn leads to the unitary evolution of the $\mathcal{S}$-matrix.Comment: 8 pages, 0 figures, accepted for publication in Comm. Theor. Phy

Moyal Representation of the String Field Star Product in the Presence of a B-background

In this paper we show that in the presence of an anti-symmetric tensor $B$-background, Witten's star algebra for open string fields persists to possess the structure of a direct product of commuting Moyal pairs. The interplay between the noncommutativity due to three-string overlap and that due to the $B$-background is our main concern. In each pair of noncommutative directions parallel to the $B$-background, the Moyal pairs mix string modes in the two directions and are labeled, in addition to a continuous parameter, by {\it two} discrete values as well. However, the Moyal parameters are $B$-dependent only for discrete pairs. We have also demonstrated the large-$B$ contraction of the star algebra, with one of the discrete Moyal pairs dropping out while the other giving rise to the center-of-mass noncommutative function algebra.Comment: minor notation chang

The stringy nature of the 2d type-0A black hole

We investigate the thermodynamics of the RR charged two-dimensional type-0A black hole background at finite temperature, and compare with known 0A matrix model results. It has been claimed that there is a disagreement for the free energy between the spacetime and the dual matrix model. Here we find that this discrepancy is sensitive to how the cutoff is implemented on the spacetime side. In particular, the disagreement is resolved once we put the cutoff at a fixed distance away from the horizon, as opposed to a fixed position in space. Furthermore, the mass and the entropy of the black hole itself add up to an analytic contribution to the free energy, which is precisely reproduced by the 0A matrix model. We also use results from the 0A matrix model to predict the next to leading order contribution to the entropy of the black hole. Finally, we note that the black hole is characterized by a Hagedorn growth in its density of states below the Hagedorn temperature. This, together with other results, suggests there is a phase transition at this temperature.Comment: 1+21 pages; v2: Substantial changes in the body of the paper, main results the same. Clarified discussion on the thermodynamics, added section on a phase transition, references added. v3: Typos corrected. v4: Final version, to appear in JHE

Taking off the square root of Nambu-Goto action and obtaining Filippov-Lie algebra gauge theory action

We propose a novel prescription to take off the square root of Nambu-Goto action for a p-brane, which generalizes the Brink-Di Vecchia-Howe-Tucker or also known as Polyakov method. With an arbitrary decomposition as d+n=p+1, our resulting action is a modified d-dimensional Polyakov action which is gauged and possesses a Nambu n-bracket squared potential. We first spell out how the (p+1)-dimensional diffeomorphism is realized in the lower dimensional action. Then we discuss a possible gauge fixing of it to a direct product of $d$-dimensional diffeomorphism and n-dimensional volume preserving diffeomorphism. We show that the latter naturally leads to a novel Filippov-Lie n-algebra based gauge theory action in d-dimensions.Comment: 1+13 pages, No figure; Expanded, published version. Title change

Ionizing radiation absorption of vascular surgeons during endovascular procedures

ObjectiveEndovascular procedures have become an integral part of a vascular surgeon’s practice. The exposure of surgeons to ionizing radiation and other safety issues have not been well studied. We investigated the radiation exposure of a team of vascular surgeons in an active endovascular unit and compared yearly dosages absorbed by various body parts among different surgeons. Patients’ radiation exposure was also assessed.MethodsThe radiation absorption of a team of vascular surgeons was prospectively monitored in a 12-month period. During each endovascular procedure, the effective body, eye, and hand radiation doses of all participating surgeons were measured by mini-thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) attached at the chest level under a lead apron, at the forehead at eye level, and at the hand. The type of procedure, fluoroscopy machine, fluoroscopy time, and personal and operating theatre radiation protection devices used in each procedure were also recorded. One TLD was attached to the patient’s body near the operative site to measure the patient’s dose. The yearly effective body, eye, and hand dose were compared with the safety limits of radiation for occupational exposure recommended by the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP). The radiation absorption of various body parts per minute of fluoroscopy was compared among different surgeons.ResultsA total of 149 consecutive endovascular procedures were performed, including 30 endovascular aortic repairs (EVAR), 58 arteriograms with and without embolization (AGM), and 61 percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent (PTA/S) procedures. The cumulative fluoroscopy time was 1132 minutes. The median yearly effective body, eye, and hand dose for the surgeons were 0.20 mSv (range, 0.13 to 0.27 mSv), 0.19 mSv (range, 0.10 to 0.33 mSv) and 0.99 mSv (0.29 to 1.84 mSv) respectively, which were well below the safety limits of the ICRP. The mean body, eye, and hand dose of the chief surgeon per procedure were highest for EVAR. A significant discrepancy was observed for the average hand dose per minute of fluoroscopy among different surgeons. The mean radiation absorption of patients who underwent EVAR, AGM, and PTA/S was 12.7 mSv, 13.6 mSv, and 3.4 mSv, respectively.ConclusionWith current radiation protection practice, the radiation absorbed by vascular surgeons with a high endovascular workload did not exceed the safety limits recommended by ICRP. Variations in practice, however, can result in significant discrepancy of radiation absorption between surgeons

A novel semi-fragile forensic watermarking scheme for remote sensing images

Peer-reviewedA semi-fragile watermarking scheme for multiple band images is presented. We propose to embed a mark into remote sensing images applying a tree structured vector quantization approach to the pixel signatures, instead of processing each band separately. The signature of themmultispectral or hyperspectral image is used to embed the mark in it order to detect any significant modification of the original image. The image is segmented into threedimensional blocks and a tree structured vector quantizer is built for each block. These trees are manipulated using an iterative algorithm until the resulting block satisfies a required criterion which establishes the embedded mark. The method is shown to be able to preserve the mark under lossy compression (above a given threshold) but, at the same time, it detects possibly forged blocks and their position in the whole image.Se presenta un esquema de marcas de agua semi-frágiles para múltiples imágenes de banda. Proponemos incorporar una marca en imágenes de detección remota, aplicando un enfoque de cuantización del vector de árbol estructurado con las definiciones de píxel, en lugar de procesar cada banda por separado. La firma de la imagen hiperespectral se utiliza para insertar la marca en el mismo orden para detectar cualquier modificación significativa de la imagen original. La imagen es segmentada en bloques tridimensionales y un cuantificador de vector de estructura de árbol se construye para cada bloque. Estos árboles son manipulados utilizando un algoritmo iteractivo hasta que el bloque resultante satisface un criterio necesario que establece la marca incrustada. El método se muestra para poder preservar la marca bajo compresión con pérdida (por encima de un umbral establecido) pero, al mismo tiempo, detecta posiblemente bloques forjados y su posición en la imagen entera.Es presenta un esquema de marques d'aigua semi-fràgils per a múltiples imatges de banda. Proposem incorporar una marca en imatges de detecció remota, aplicant un enfocament de quantització del vector d'arbre estructurat amb les definicions de píxel, en lloc de processar cada banda per separat. La signatura de la imatge hiperespectral s'utilitza per inserir la marca en el mateix ordre per detectar qualsevol modificació significativa de la imatge original. La imatge és segmentada en blocs tridimensionals i un quantificador de vector d'estructura d'arbre es construeix per a cada bloc. Aquests arbres són manipulats utilitzant un algoritme iteractiu fins que el bloc resultant satisfà un criteri necessari que estableix la marca incrustada. El mètode es mostra per poder preservar la marca sota compressió amb pèrdua (per sobre d'un llindar establert) però, al mateix temps, detecta possiblement blocs forjats i la seva posició en la imatge sencera

Electromagnetic-field quantization and spontaneous decay in left-handed media

We present a quantization scheme for the electromagnetic field interacting with atomic systems in the presence of dispersing and absorbing magnetodielectric media, including left-handed material having negative real part of the refractive index. The theory is applied to the spontaneous decay of a two-level atom at the center of a spherical free-space cavity surrounded by magnetodielectric matter of overlapping band-gap zones. Results for both big and small cavities are presented, and the problem of local-field corrections within the real-cavity model is addressed.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, RevTe

Higher dimensional geometries related to fuzzy odd-dimensional spheres

We study $SO(m)$ covariant Matrix realizations of $\sum_{i=1}^{m} X_i^2 = 1$ for even $m$ as candidate fuzzy odd spheres following hep-th/0101001. As for the fuzzy four sphere, these Matrix algebras contain more degrees of freedom than the sphere itself and the full set of variables has a geometrical description in terms of a higher dimensional coset. The fuzzy $S^{2k-1}$ is related to a higher dimensional coset ${SO(2k) \over U(1) \times U(k-1)}$. These cosets are bundles where base and fibre are hermitian symmetric spaces. The detailed form of the generators and relations for the Matrix algebras related to the fuzzy three-spheres suggests Matrix actions which admit the fuzzy spheres as solutions. These Matrix actions are compared with the BFSS, IKKT and BMN Matrix models as well as some others. The geometry and combinatorics of fuzzy odd spheres lead to some remarks on the transverse five-brane problem of Matrix theories and the exotic scaling of the entropy of 5-branes with the brane number.Comment: 32 pages, v2 : ref and acknowledgment adde