411 research outputs found
Superstrings on AdS3 at k=1
We study superstring theory in three dimensional Anti-de Sitter spacetime
with NS-NS flux, focusing on the case where the radius of curvature is equal to
the string length. This corresponds to the critical level k=1 in the
Wess-Zumino-Witten description. Previously, it was argued that a transition
takes place at this special radius, from a phase dominated by black holes at
larger radius to one dominated by long strings at smaller radius. We argue that
the infinite tower of modes that become massless at k=1 is a signal of this
transition. We propose a simple two-dimensional conformal field theory as the
holographic dual to superstring theory at k=1. As evidence for our conjecture,
we demonstrate that at large N our putative dual exactly reproduces the full
spectrum of the long strings of the weakly coupled string theory, including
states unprotected by supersymmetry.Comment: 29 pages, one figure. An equivalent construction of the dual orbifold
CFT has been added, together with a discussion of the short string spectrum
and additional observations on interaction
Amyloid Imaging in Aging and Dementia: Testing the Amyloid Hypothesis In Vivo
Amyloid imaging represents a major advance in neuroscience, enabling the detection and quantification of pathologic protein aggregations in the brain. In this review we survey current amyloid imaging techniques, focusing on positron emission tomography (PET) with ^{11}carbon-labelled Pittsburgh Compound-B (11C-PIB), the most extensively studied and best validated tracer. PIB binds specifically to fibrillar beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposits, and is a sensitive marker for Aβ pathology in cognitively normal older individuals and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). PIB-PET provides us with a powerful tool to examine in vivo the relationship between amyloid deposition, clinical symptoms, and structural and functional brain changes in the continuum between normal aging and AD. Amyloid imaging studies support a model in which amyloid deposition is an early event on the path to dementia, beginning insidiously in cognitively normal individuals, and accompanied by subtle cognitive decline and functional and structural brain changes suggestive of incipient AD. As patients progress to dementia, clinical decline and neurodegeneration accelerate and proceed independently of amyloid accumulation. In the future, amyloid imaging is likely to supplement clinical evaluation in selecting patients for anti-amyloid therapies, while MRI and FDG-PET may be more appropriate markers of clinical progression
Remarks on Non-Abelian Duality
A class of two-dimensional globally scale-invariant, but not conformally
invariant, theories is obtained. These systems are identified in the process of
discussing global and local scaling properties of models related by duality
transformations, based on non-semisimple isometry groups. The construction of
the dual partner of a given model is followed through; non-local as well as
local versions of the former are discussed.Comment: 33 pages, CERN-TH.7414/94, RI-9-94, WIS-7-9
Ricci flow and black holes
Gradient flow in a potential energy (or Euclidean action) landscape provides
a natural set of paths connecting different saddle points. We apply this method
to General Relativity, where gradient flow is Ricci flow, and focus on the
example of 4-dimensional Euclidean gravity with boundary S^1 x S^2,
representing the canonical ensemble for gravity in a box. At high temperature
the action has three saddle points: hot flat space and a large and small black
hole. Adding a time direction, these also give static 5-dimensional
Kaluza-Klein solutions, whose potential energy equals the 4-dimensional action.
The small black hole has a Gross-Perry-Yaffe-type negative mode, and is
therefore unstable under Ricci flow. We numerically simulate the two flows
seeded by this mode, finding that they lead to the large black hole and to hot
flat space respectively, in the latter case via a topology-changing
singularity. In the context of string theory these flows are world-sheet
renormalization group trajectories. We also use them to construct a novel free
energy diagram for the canonical ensemble.Comment: 31 pages, 14 color figures. v2: Discussion of the metric on the space
of metrics corrected and expanded, references adde
Nonrigid chiral soliton for the octet and decuplet baryons
Systematic treatment of the collective rotation of the nonrigid chiral
soliton is developed in the SU(3) chiral quark soliton model and applied to the
octet and decuplet baryons. The strangeness degrees of freedom are treated by a
simplified bound-state approach which omits the locality of the kaon wave
function. Then, the flavor rotation is divided into the isospin rotation and
the emission and absorption of the kaon. The kaon Hamiltonian is diagonalized
by the Hartree approximation. The soliton changes the shape according to the
strangeness. The baryons appear as the rotational bands of the combined system
of the soliton and the kaon.Comment: 11 pages(LaTex), 1 figures(eps
On Thermodynamical Properties of Some Coset CFT Backgrounds
We investigate the thermodynamical features of two Lorentzian signature
backgrounds that arise in string theory as exact CFTs and possess more than two
disconnected asymptotic regions: the 2-d charged black hole and the
Nappi-Witten cosmological model. We find multiple smooth disconnected Euclidean
versions of the charged black hole background. They are characterized by
different temperatures and electro-chemical potentials. We show that there is
no straightforward analog of the Hartle-Hawking state that would express these
thermodynamical features. We also obtain multiple Euclidean versions of the
Nappi-Witten cosmological model and study their singularity structure. It
suggests to associate a non-isotropic temperature with this background.Comment: 1+39 pages, harvmac, 8 eps figure
Strong coupling expansion of chiral models
A general precedure is outlined for an algorithmic implementation of the
strong coupling expansion of lattice chiral models on arbitrary lattices. A
symbolic character expansion in terms of connected values of group integrals on
skeleton diagrams may be obtained by a fully computerized approach.Comment: 2 pages, PostScript file, contribution to conference LATTICE '9
Vacuum structure of CP^N sigma models at theta=pi
We show that parity symmetry is not spontaneously broken in the CP^N sigma
model for any value of N when the coefficient of the --term becomes
(mod ). The result follows from a non-perturbative analysis
of the nodal structure of the vacuum functional . The dynamical role
of sphalerons turns out to be very important for the argument. The result
introduces severe constraints on the possible critical behavior of the models
at (mod ).Comment: 8 pages, revtex, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let
On the dynamical generation of the Maxwell term and scale invariance
Gauge theories with no Maxwell term are investigated in various setups. The
dynamical generation of the Maxwell term is correlated to the scale invariance
properties of the system. This is discussed mainly in the cases where the gauge
coupling carries dimensions. The term is generated when the theory contains a
scale explicitly, when it is asymptotically free and in particular also when
the scale invariance is spontaneously broken. The terms are not generated when
the scale invariance is maintained. Examples studied include the large
limit of the model in dimensions, a 3D gauged
vector model and its supersymmetric extension. In the latter case the
generation of the Maxwell term at a fixed point is explored. The phase
structure of the case is investigated in the presence of a Chern-Simons
term as well. In the supersymmetric model the emergence of the Maxwell
term is accompanied by the dynamical generation of the Chern-Simons term and
its multiplet and dynamical breaking of the parity symmetry. In some of the
phases long range forces emerge which may result in logarithmic confinement.
These include a dilaton exchange which plays a role also in the case when the
theory has no gauge symmetry. Gauged Lagrangian realizations of the 2D coset
models do not lead to emergent Maxwell terms. We discuss a case where the gauge
symmetry is anomalous.Comment: 38 pages, 4 figures; v2 slightly improved, typos fixed, references
added, published versio
Patient and caregiver assessment of the benefits from the clinical use of amyloid PET imaging
INTRODUCTION:
Few studies to date have explored patient and caregiver views on the clinical use of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET).
METHODS:
A 7-item questionnaire assessing patient and caregiver views (510 total respondents) toward amyloid PET imaging was advertised broadly through alz.org/trialmatch.
RESULTS:
We received 510 unique responses from 48 US states, 2 Canadian provinces, the Dominican Republic, and Greece. Both patients and caregivers indicated that they would want to receive amyloid imaging if offered the opportunity. Over 88% of respondents had a positive response (∼10% with neutral and 2% with negative responses) to whether amyloid PET should be offered routinely and be reimbursed. Such information was felt to be useful for long-term legal, financial, and health care planning. Respondents identifying with early age cognitive decline (younger than 65 y) were more likely to explore options for disability insurance (P=0.03). Responders from the Midwest were more likely to utilize information from amyloid imaging for legal planning (P=0.02), disability insurance (P=0.02), and life insurance (P=0.04) than other US regions.
DISCUSSION:
Patients and caregivers supported the use of amyloid PET imaging in clinical practice and felt that the information would provide significant benefits particularly in terms of future planning
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