610 research outputs found
Particle dynamics near extreme Kerr throat and supersymmetry
The extreme Kerr throat solution is believed to be non-supersymmetric.
However, its isometry group SO(2,1) x U(1) matches precisely the bosonic
subgroup of N=2 superconformal group in one dimension. In this paper we
construct N=2 supersymmetric extension of a massive particle moving near the
horizon of the extreme Kerr black hole. Bosonic conserved charges are related
to Killing vectors in a conventional way. Geometric interpretation of
supersymmetry charges remains a challenge.Comment: V2: 10 pages; discussion in sect. 4 and 5 extended, acknowledgements
and references adde
Generalized Geometry and M theory
We reformulate the Hamiltonian form of bosonic eleven dimensional
supergravity in terms of an object that unifies the three-form and the metric.
For the case of four spatial dimensions, the duality group is manifest and the
metric and C-field are on an equal footing even though no dimensional reduction
is required for our results to hold. One may also describe our results using
the generalized geometry that emerges from membrane duality. The relationship
between the twisted Courant algebra and the gauge symmetries of eleven
dimensional supergravity are described in detail.Comment: 29 pages of Latex, v2 References added, typos fixed, v3 corrected
kinetic term and references adde
The Nuts and Bolts of Einstein-Maxwell Solutions
We find new non-supersymmetric solutions of five-dimensional ungauged
supergravity coupled to two vector multiplets. The solutions are regular,
horizonless and have the same asymptotic charges as non-extremal charged black
holes. An essential ingredient in our construction is a four-dimensional
Euclidean base which is a solution to Einstein-Maxwell equations. We construct
stationary solutions based on the Euclidean dyonic Reissner-Nordstrom black
hole as well as a six-parameter family with a dyonic Kerr-Newman-NUT base.
These solutions can be viewed as compactifications of eleven-dimensional
supergravity on a six-torus and we discuss their brane interpretation.Comment: 29 pages, 3 figure
Entropy of three-dimensional asymptotically flat cosmological solutions
The thermodynamics of three-dimensional asymptotically flat cosmological
solutions that play the same role than the BTZ black holes in the anti-de
Sitter case is derived and explained from holographic properties of flat space.
It is shown to coincide with the flat-space limit of the thermodynamics of the
inner black hole horizon on the one hand and the semi-classical approximation
to the gravitational partition function associated to the entropy of the outer
horizon on the other. This leads to the insight that it is the Massieu function
that is universal in the sense that it can be computed at either horizon.Comment: 16 pages Latex file, v2: references added, cosmetic changes, v3: 1
reference adde
Separability of Black Holes in String Theory
We analyze the origin of separability for rotating black holes in string
theory, considering both massless and massive geodesic equations as well as the
corresponding wave equations. We construct a conformal Killing-Stackel tensor
for a general class of black holes with four independent charges, then identify
two-charge configurations where enhancement to an exact Killing-Stackel tensor
is possible. We show that further enhancement to a conserved Killing-Yano
tensor is possible only for the special case of Kerr-Newman black holes. We
construct natural null congruences for all these black holes and use the
results to show that only the Kerr-Newman black holes are algebraically special
in the sense of Petrov. Modifying the asymptotic behavior by the subtraction
procedure that induces an exact SL(2)^2 also preserves only the conformal
Killing-Stackel tensor. Similarly, we find that a rotating Kaluza-Klein black
hole possesses a conformal Killing-Stackel tensor but has no further
enhancements.Comment: 27 page
Arterial versus venous lactate: a measure of sepsis in children.
This study assessed the agreement between arterial and venous blood lactate and pH levels in children with sepsis. This retrospective, three-year study involved 60 PICU patients, with data collected from electronic or paper patient records. The inclusion criteria comprised of children (≤17 years old) with sepsis and those who had a venous blood gas taken first with an arterial blood gas taken after within one hour. The lactate and pH values measured through each method were analysed. There is close agreement between venous and arterial lactate up to 2 mmol/L. As this value increases, this agreement becomes poor. The limits of agreement (LOA) are too large (±1.90 mmol/L) to allow venous and arterial lactate to be used interchangeably. The mean difference and LOA between both methods would be much smaller if derived using lactate values under 2.0 mmol/L. There is close agreement between arterial and venous pH (MD = -0.056, LOA ± 0.121). However, due to extreme variations in pH readings during sepsis, pH alone is an inadequate marker. CONCLUSION: A venous lactate ≤2 mmol/L can be used as a surrogate for arterial lactate during early management of sepsis in children. However, if the value exceeds 2 mmol/L, an arterial sample must confirm the venous result. What is known: • In children with septic shock, a blood gas is an important test to show the presence of acidosis and high lactic acid. Hyperlactataemia on admission is an early predictor of outcome and is associated with a greater mortality risk. • An arterial sample is the standard for lactate measurement, however getting a sample may be challenging in the emergency department or a general paediatric ward. Venous samples are quicker and easier to obtain. Adult studies generally advise caution in replacing venous lactate values for the arterial standard, whilst paediatric studies are limited in this area. What is new: • This is the first study assessing the agreement between arterial and peripheral venous lactate in children with sepsis, with a significant sample of patients. • This study shows that a venous sample with a lactate of ≤ 2 mmol/L can be used as a surrogate measurement for arterial lactate during early management of sepsis in children. However, if the venous lactate is above 2 mmol/L, an arterial sample must be taken to confirm the result
A holographic model for the fractional quantum Hall effect
Experimental data for fractional quantum Hall systems can to a large extent
be explained by assuming the existence of a modular symmetry group commuting
with the renormalization group flow and hence mapping different phases of
two-dimensional electron gases into each other. Based on this insight, we
construct a phenomenological holographic model which captures many features of
the fractional quantum Hall effect. Using an SL(2,Z)-invariant
Einstein-Maxwell-axio-dilaton theory capturing the important modular
transformation properties of quantum Hall physics, we find dyonic diatonic
black hole solutions which are gapped and have a Hall conductivity equal to the
filling fraction, as expected for quantum Hall states. We also provide several
technical results on the general behavior of the gauge field fluctuations
around these dyonic dilatonic black hole solutions: We specify a sufficient
criterion for IR normalizability of the fluctuations, demonstrate the
preservation of the gap under the SL(2,Z) action, and prove that the
singularity of the fluctuation problem in the presence of a magnetic field is
an accessory singularity. We finish with a preliminary investigation of the
possible IR scaling solutions of our model and some speculations on how they
could be important for the observed universality of quantum Hall transitions.Comment: 86 pages, 16 figures; v.2 references added, typos fixed, improved
discussion of ref. [39]; v.3 more references added and typos fixed, several
statements clarified, v.4 version accepted for publication in JHE
The factor structure of the Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale in thirteen distinct populations
There is considerable evidence that self-criticism plays a major role in the vulnerability to and recovery from psychopathology. Methods to measure this process, and its change over time, are therefore important for research in psychopathology and well-being. This study examined the factor structure of a widely used measure, the Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale in thirteen nonclinical samples (N = 7510) from twelve different countries: Australia (N = 319), Canada (N = 383), Switzerland (N = 230), Israel (N = 476), Italy (N = 389), Japan (N = 264), the Netherlands (N = 360), Portugal (N = 764), Slovakia (N = 1326), Taiwan (N = 417), the United Kingdom 1 (N = 1570), the United Kingdom 2 (N = 883), and USA (N = 331). This study used more advanced analyses than prior reports: a bifactor item-response theory model, a two-tier item-response theory model, and a non-parametric item-response theory (Mokken) scale analysis. Although the original three-factor solution for the FSCRS (distinguishing between Inadequate-Self, Hated-Self, and Reassured-Self) had an acceptable fit, two-tier models, with two general factors (Self-criticism and Self-reassurance) demonstrated the best fit across all samples. This study provides preliminary evidence suggesting that this two-factor structure can be used in a range of nonclinical contexts across countries and cultures. Inadequate-Self and Hated-Self might not by distinct factors in nonclinical samples. Future work may benefit from distinguishing between self-correction versus shame-based self-criticism.Peer reviewe
Stochastic Gravity: Theory and Applications
Whereas semiclassical gravity is based on the semiclassical Einstein equation
with sources given by the expectation value of the stress-energy tensor of
quantum fields, stochastic semiclassical gravity is based on the
Einstein-Langevin equation, which has in addition sources due to the noise
kernel.In the first part, we describe the fundamentals of this new theory via
two approaches: the axiomatic and the functional. In the second part, we
describe three applications of stochastic gravity theory. First, we consider
metric perturbations in a Minkowski spacetime: we compute the two-point
correlation functions for the linearized Einstein tensor and for the metric
perturbations. Second, we discuss structure formation from the stochastic
gravity viewpoint. Third, we discuss the backreaction of Hawking radiation in
the gravitational background of a quasi-static black hole.Comment: 75 pages, no figures, submitted to Living Reviews in Relativit
Computerized adaptive testing of population psychological distress : simulation-based evaluation of GHQ-30
PURPOSE: Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) items are frequently used to assess psychological distress but no study to date has investigated the GHQ-30's potential for adaptive administration. In computerized adaptive testing (CAT) items are matched optimally to the targeted distress level of respondents instead of relying on fixed-length versions of instruments. We therefore calibrate GHQ-30 items and report a simulation study exploring the potential of this instrument for adaptive administration in a longitudinal setting. METHODS: GHQ-30 responses of 3445 participants with 2 completed assessments (baseline, 7-year follow-up) in the UK Health and Lifestyle Survey were calibrated using item response theory. Our simulation study evaluated the efficiency of CAT administration of the items, cross-sectionally and longitudinally, with different estimators, item selection methods, and measurement precision criteria. RESULTS: To yield accurate distress measurements (marginal reliability at least 0.90) nearly all GHQ-30 items need to be administered to most survey respondents in general population samples. When lower accuracy is permissible (marginal reliability of 0.80), adaptive administration saves approximately 2/3 of the items. For longitudinal applications, change scores based on the complete set of GHQ-30 items correlate highly with change scores from adaptive administrations. CONCLUSIONS: The rationale for CAT-GHQ-30 is only supported when the required marginal reliability is lower than 0.9, which is most likely to be the case in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies assessing mean changes in populations. Precise measurement of psychological distress at the individual level can be achieved, but requires the deployment of all 30 items
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