3,524 research outputs found
Einstein-aether theory, violation of Lorentz invariance, and metric-affine gravity
We show that the Einstein-aether theory of Jacobson and Mattingly (J&M) can
be understood in the framework of the metric-affine (gauge theory of) gravity
(MAG). We achieve this by relating the aether vector field of J&M to certain
post-Riemannian nonmetricity pieces contained in an independent linear
connection of spacetime. Then, for the aether, a corresponding geometrical
curvature-square Lagrangian with a massive piece can be formulated
straightforwardly. We find an exact spherically symmetric solution of our
model.Comment: Revtex4, 38 pages, 1 figur
Quantized circular motion of a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate: coherent rotation and vortices
We study the creation of vortex states in a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate
by a rotating force. For a harmonic trapping potential the rotating force
induces only a circular motion of the whole condensate around the trap center
which does not depend on the interatomic interaction. For the creation of a
pure vortex state it is necessary to confine the atoms in an anharmonic
trapping potential. The efficiency of the creation can be greatly enhanced by a
sinusodial variation of the force's angular velocity. We present analytical and
numerical calculations for the case of a quartic trapping potential. The
physical mechanism behind the requirement of an anharmonic trapping potential
for the creation of pure vortex states is explained.
[Changes: new numerical and analytical results are added and the
representation is improved.]Comment: 13 Pages, 5 Figures, RevTe
Beyond Einstein-Cartan gravity: Quadratic torsion and curvature invariants with even and odd parity including all boundary terms
Recently, gravitational gauge theories with torsion have been discussed by an
increasing number of authors from a classical as well as from a quantum field
theoretical point of view. The Einstein-Cartan(-Sciama-Kibble) Lagrangian has
been enriched by the parity odd pseudoscalar curvature (Hojman, Mukku, and
Sayed) and by torsion square and curvature square pieces, likewise of even and
odd parity. (i) We show that the inverse of the so-called Barbero-Immirzi
parameter multiplying the pseudoscalar curvature, because of the topological
Nieh-Yan form, can only be appropriately discussed if torsion square pieces are
included. (ii) The quadratic gauge Lagrangian with both parities, proposed by
Obukhov et al. and Baekler et al., emerges also in the framework of Diakonov et
al.(2011). We establish the exact relations between both approaches by applying
the topological Euler and Pontryagin forms in a Riemann-Cartan space expressed
for the first time in terms of irreducible pieces of the curvature tensor.
(iii) Only in a Riemann-Cartan spacetime, that is, in a spacetime with torsion,
parity violating terms can be brought into the gravitational Lagrangian in a
straightforward and natural way. Accordingly, Riemann-Cartan spacetime is a
natural habitat for chiral fermionic matter fields.Comment: 12 page latex, as version 2 an old file was submitted by mistake,
this is now the real corrected fil
A Large Proportion of P. falciparum Isolates in the Amazon Region of Peru Lack pfhrp2 and pfhrp3: Implications for Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests
Background: Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) offer significant potential to improve the diagnosis of malaria, and are playing an increasing role in malaria case management, control and elimination. Peru, along with other South American countries, is moving to introduce malaria RDTs as components of malaria control programmes supported by the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and malaria. The selection of the most suitable malaria RDTs is critical to the success of the programmes. Methods: Eight of nine microscopy positive P. falciparum samples collected in Iquitos, Peru tested negative or weak positive using HRP2-detecting RDTs. These samples were tested for the presence of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 and their flanking genes by PCR, as well as the presence of HRP proteins by ELISA. To investigate for geographic extent of HRP-deleted parasites and their temporal occurrence a retrospective study was undertaken on 148 microscopy positive P. falciparum samples collected in different areas of the Amazon region of Peru. Findings: Eight of the nine isolates lacked the pfhrp2 and/or pfhrp3 genes and one or both flanking genes, and the absence of HRP was confirmed by ELISA. The retrospective study showed that 61 (41%) and 103 (70%) of the 148 samples lacked the pfhrp2 or pfhrp3 genes respectively, with 32 (21.6%) samples lacking both hrp genes. Conclusions: This is the first documentation of P. falciparum field isolates lacking pfhrp2 and/or pfhrp3. The high frequency and wide distribution of different parasites lacking pfhrp2 and/or pfhrp3 in widely dispersed areas in the Peruvian Amazon implies that malaria RDTs targeting HRP2 will fail to detect a high proportion of P. falciparum in malaria-endemic areas of Peru and should not be used. RDTs detecting parasite LDH or aldolase and quality microscopy should be use for malaria diagnosis in this region. There is an urgent need for investigation of the abundance and geographic distribution of these parasites in Peru and neighbouring countries
Quantum Vortex in a Vectorial Bose-Einstein Condensate
Quantum vortices in the multi-component Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) are
investigated theoretically. It is found that three kinds of the vortex
configurations are possible and their physical properties are discussed in
details, including the density distribution and the spin texture. By using the
Bogoliubov theory extended to the three component BEC, the collective modes for
these vortices are evaluated. The local vortex stability for these vortices are
examined in light of the existence of the negative eigenvalue, yielding a
narrow magnetization window for the local intrinsic stable region where the
multi-components work together to stabilize a vortex in a self-organized way.Comment: 8 pages, 14 eps figure
Nuclear Inelastic X-Ray Scattering of FeO to 48 GPa
The partial density of vibrational states has been measured for Fe in
compressed FeO (w\"ustite) using nuclear resonant inelastic x-ray scattering.
Substantial changes have been observed in the overall shape of the density of
states close to the magnetic transiton around 20 GPa from the paramagnetic (low
pressure) to the antiferromagnetic (high pressure) state. Our data indicate a
substantial softening of the aggregate sound velocities far below the
transition, starting between 5 and 10 GPa. This is consistent with recent
radial x-ray diffraction measurements of the elastic constants in FeO. The
results indicate that strong magnetoelastic coupling in FeO is the driving
force behind the changes in the phonon spectrum of FeO.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
The Landscape of Particle Production: Results from PHOBOS
Recent results from the PHOBOS experiment at RHIC are presented, both from
Au+Au collisions from the 2001 run and p+p and d+Au collisions from 2003. The
centrality dependence of the total charged particle multiplicity in p+p and
d+Au show features, such as Npart-scaling and limiting fragmentation, similar
to p+A collisions at lower energies. Multiparticle physics in Au+Au is found to
be local in (pseudo)rapidity, both when observed by HBT correlations and by
forward-backward pseudorapidity correlations. The shape of elliptic flow in
Au+Au, measured over the full range of pseudorapidity, appears to have a very
weak centrality dependence. Identified particle ratios in d+Au reactions show
little difference between the shape of proton and anti-proton spectra, while
the absolute yields show an approximate m_T scaling.Comment: 8 Pages, 11 Figures, Plenary talk at Quark Matter 2004, Oakland, CA,
January 11-18, 200
Solidification of Al alloys under electromagnetic pulses and characterization of the 3D microstructures under synchrotron x-ray tomography
A novel programmable electromagnetic pulse device was developed and used to study the solidification of Al-15 pct Cu and Al-35 pct Cu alloys. The pulsed magnetic fluxes and Lorentz forces generated inside the solidifying melts were simulated using finite element methods, and their effects on the solidification microstructures were characterized using electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray tomography. Using a discharging voltage of 120 V, a pulsed magnetic field with the peak Lorentz force of ~1.6 N was generated inside the solidifying Al-Cu melts which were showed sufficiently enough to disrupt the growth of the primary Al dendrites and the Al2Cu intermetallic phases. The microstructures exhibit a strong correlation to the characteristics of the applied pulse, forming a periodical pattern that resonates the frequency of the applied electromagnetic field
Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) for Work-related Wellbeing and Job Performance: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Due to its potential to concurrently improve work-related wellbeing (WRW) and job performance, occupational stakeholders are becoming increasingly interested in the applications of meditation. The present study conducted the first randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of meditation on outcomes relating to both WRW and job performance. Office-based middle-hierarchy managers (n = 152) received an eight-week meditation intervention (Meditation Awareness Training; MAT) or an active control intervention. MAT participants demonstrated significant and sustainable improvements (with strong effect sizes) over control-group participants in levels of work-related stress, job satisfaction, psychological distress, and employer-rated job performance. There are a number of novel implications: (i) meditation can effectuate a perceptual shift in how employees experience their work and psychological environment and may thus constitute a cost-effective WRW intervention, (ii) meditation-based (i.e., present-moment-focussed) working styles may be more effective than goal-based (i.e., future-orientated) working styles, and (iii) meditation may reduce the separation made by employees between their own interests and those of the organizations they work for
Redox amplification of apoptosis by caspase-dependent cleavage of glutaredoxin 1 and S-glutathionylation of Fas
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase ligation of Fas (CD95), a receptor important for regulation of programmed cell death. Glutathionylation of reactive cysteines represents an oxidative modification that can be reversed by glutaredoxins (Grxs). The goal of this study was to determine whether Fas is redox regulated under physiological conditions. In this study, we demonstrate that stimulation with Fas ligand (FasL) induces S-glutathionylation of Fas at cysteine 294 independently of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced oxidase–induced ROS. Instead, Fas is S-glutathionylated after caspase-dependent degradation of Grx1, increasing subsequent caspase activation and apoptosis. Conversely, overexpression of Grx1 attenuates S-glutathionylation of Fas and partially protects against FasL-induced apoptosis. Redox-mediated Fas modification promotes its aggregation and recruitment into lipid rafts and enhances binding of FasL. As a result, death-inducing signaling complex formation is also increased, and subsequent activation of caspase-8 and -3 is augmented. These results define a novel redox-based mechanism to propagate Fas-dependent apoptosis
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