877 research outputs found
On the AC spectrum of one-dimensional random Schroedinger operators with matrix-valued potentials
We consider discrete one-dimensional random Schroedinger operators with
decaying matrix-valued, independent potentials. We show that if the l^2-norm of
this potential has finite expectation value with respect to the product measure
then almost surely the Schroedinger operator has an interval of purely
absolutely continuous (ac) spectrum. We apply this result to Schroedinger
operators on a strip. This work provides a new proof and generalizes a result
obtained by Delyon, Simon, and Souillard.Comment: (1 figure
Thermodynamics of Holographic Defects
Using the AdS/CFT correspondence, we study the thermodynamic properties and
the phase diagram of matter fields on (2+1)-dimensional defects coupled to a
(3+1)-dimensional N=4 SYM "heat bath". Considering a background magnetic field,
(net) quark density, defect "magnitude" and the mass of the
matter, we study the defect contribution to the thermodynamic potentials and
their first and second derivatives to map the phases and study their physical
properties.
We find some features that are qualitatively similar to other systems e.g. in
(3+1) dimensions and a number of features that are particular to the defect
nature, such as its magnetic properties, unexpected properties at T->0 and
finite density; and the finite effects, e.g. a diverging
susceptibility and vanishing density of states at small temperatures, a
physically consistent negative heat capacity and new types of consistent
phases.Comment: 33 pages, 16 figures (jpg and pdf), typos fixed and references added,
final version published in JHE
Massive Quantum Liquids from Holographic Angel's Trumpets
We explore the small-temperature regime in the deconfined phase of massive
fundamental matter at finite baryon number density coupled to the 3+1
dimensional N=4 SYM theory. In this setting, we can demonstrate a new type of
non-trivial temperature-independent scaling solutions for the probe brane
embeddings. Focusing mostly on matter supported in 2+1 dimensions, the
thermodynamics indicate that there is a quantum liquid with interesting
density-dependent low-temperature physics. We also comment about 3+1 and 1+1
dimensional systems, where we further find for example a new thermodynamic
instability.Comment: 18+1 pages, 6 figures; replaced fig. 6 and comments in sec. 5.2;
minor explanations added and typos fixed, final version published in JHEP
(modulo fig. 3); factor of \sqrt{\lambda} and corresponding comments fixe
Sum Rules from an Extra Dimension
Using the gravity side of the AdS/CFT correspondence, we investigate the
analytic properties of thermal retarded Green's functions for scalars,
conserved currents, the stress tensor, and massless fermions. We provide some
results concerning their large and small frequency behavior and their pole
structure. From these results, it is straightforward to prove the validity of
various sum rules on the field theory side of the duality. We introduce a novel
contraction mapping we use to study the large frequency behavior of the Green's
functions.Comment: v2: 23 pages (plus appendix), revised presentation, discussion of
branch cuts moved to appendix, and some minor changes; v1: 24 pages (plus
appendix
Physical Response Functions of Strongly Coupled Massive Quantum Liquids
We study physical properties of strongly coupled massive quantum liquids from
their spectral functions using the AdS/CFT correspondence. The generic model
that we consider is dense, heavy fundamental matter coupled to SU(N_c) super
Yang-Mills theory at finite temperature above the deconfinement phase
transition but below the scale set by the baryon number density. In this setup,
we study the current-current correlators of the baryon number density using new
techniques that employ a scaling behavior in the dual geometry. Our results,
the AC conductivity, the quasi-particle spectrum and the Drude-limit parameters
like the relaxation time are simple temperature-independent expressions that
depend only on the mass-squared to density ratio and display a crossover
between a baryon- and meson-dominated regime. We concentrated on the
(2+1)-dimensional defect case, but in principle our results can also be
generalized straightforwardly to other cases.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures, extra paragraph and figure are added in
response to referee's comment
Consistent superiority of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors over placebo in reducing depressed mood in patients with major depression.
The recent questioning of the antidepressant effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is partly based on the observation that approximately half of company-sponsored trials have failed to reveal a significant difference between active drug and placebo. Most of these have applied the Hamilton depression rating scale to assess symptom severity, the sum score for its 17 items (HDRS-17-sum) serving as effect parameter. In this study, we examined whether the negative outcomes of many SSRI trials may be partly caused by the use of this frequently questioned measure of response. We undertook patient-level post-hoc analyses of 18 industry-sponsored placebo-controlled trials regarding paroxetine, citalopram, sertraline or fluoxetine, and including in total 6669 adults with major depression, the aim being to assess what the outcome would have been if the single item depressed mood (rated 0-4) had been used as a measure of efficacy. In total, 32 drug-placebo comparisons were reassessed. While 18 out of 32 comparisons (56%) failed to separate active drug from placebo at week 6 with respect to reduction in HDRS-17-sum, only 3 out of 32 comparisons (9%) were negative when depressed mood was used as an effect parameter (
Weak coupling large-N transitions at finite baryon density
We study thermodynamics of free SU(N) gauge theory with a large number of
colours and flavours on a three-sphere, in the presence of a baryon number
chemical potential. Reducing the system to a holomorphic large-N matrix
integral, paying specific attention to theories with scalar flavours (squarks),
we identify novel third-order deconfining phase transitions as a function of
the chemical potential. These transitions in the complex large-N saddle point
configurations are interpreted as "melting" of baryons into (s)quarks. They are
triggered by the exponentially large (~ exp(N)) degeneracy of light baryon-like
states, which include ordinary baryons, adjoint-baryons and baryons made from
different spherical harmonics of flavour fields on the three-sphere. The phase
diagram of theories with scalar flavours terminates at a phase boundary where
baryon number diverges, representing the onset of Bose condensation of squarks.Comment: 38 pages, 7 figure
Are we drawing the right conclusions from randomised placebo-controlled trials? A post-hoc analysis of data from a randomised controlled trial
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Assumptions underlying placebo controlled trials include that the placebo effect impacts on all study arms equally, and that treatment effects are additional to the placebo effect. However, these assumptions have recently been challenged, and different mechanisms may potentially be operating in the placebo and treatment arms. The objective of the current study was to explore the nature of placebo versus pharmacological effects by comparing predictors of the placebo response with predictors of the treatment response in a randomised, placebo-controlled trial of a phytotherapeutic combination for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. A substantial placebo response was observed but no significant difference in efficacy between the two arms.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A <it>post hoc </it>analysis was conducted on data from 93 participants who completed this previously published study. Variables at baseline were investigated as potential predictors of the response on any of the endpoints of flushing, overall menopausal symptoms and depression. Focused tests were conducted using hierarchical linear regression analyses. Based on these findings, analyses were conducted for both groups separately. These findings are discussed in relation to existing literature on placebo effects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Distinct differences in predictors were observed between the placebo and active groups. A significant difference was found for study entry anxiety, and Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS) scores, on all three endpoints. Attitude to menopause was found to differ significantly between the two groups for GCS scores. Examination of the individual arms found anxiety at study entry to predict placebo response on all three outcome measures individually. In contrast, <it>low </it>anxiety was significantly associated with improvement in the active treatment group. None of the variables found to predict the placebo response was relevant to the treatment arm.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study was a <it>post hoc </it>analysis of predictors of the placebo versus treatment response. Whilst this study does not explore neurobiological mechanisms, these observations are consistent with the hypotheses that 'drug' effects and placebo effects are not necessarily additive, and that mutually exclusive mechanisms may be operating in the two arms. The need for more research in the area of mechanisms and mediators of placebo versus active responses is supported.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>International Clinical Trials Registry ISRCTN98972974.</p
Thermodynamics and Instabilities of a Strongly Coupled Anisotropic Plasma
We extend our analysis of a IIB supergravity solution dual to a spatially
anisotropic finite-temperature N=4 super Yang-Mills plasma. The solution is
static, possesses an anisotropic horizon, and is completely regular. The full
geometry can be viewed as a renormalization group flow from an AdS geometry in
the ultraviolet to a Lifshitz-like geometry in the infrared. The anisotropy can
be equivalently understood as resulting from a position-dependent theta-term or
from a non-zero number density of dissolved D7-branes. The holographic stress
tensor is conserved and anisotropic. The presence of a conformal anomaly plays
an important role in the thermodynamics. The phase diagram exhibits homogeneous
and inhomogeneous (i.e. mixed) phases. In some regions the homogeneous phase
displays instabilities reminiscent of those of weakly coupled plasmas. We
comment on similarities with QCD at finite baryon density and with the
phenomenon of cavitation.Comment: 62 pages, 13 figures; v2: typos fixed, added reference
From habits of attrition to modes of inclusion: enhancing the role of private practitioners in routine disease surveillance
Background:
Private practitioners are the preferred first point of care in a majority of low and middle-income countries and in this position, best placed for the surveillance of diseases. However their contribution to routine surveillance data is marginal. This systematic review aims to explore evidence with regards to the role, contribution, and involvement of private practitioners in routine disease data notification. We examined the factors that determine the inclusion of, and the participation thereof of private practitioners in disease surveillance activities.
Methods:
Literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Web of Knowledge, WHOLIS, and WHO-IRIS databases to identify peer reviewed and gray full-text documents in English with no limits for year of publication or study design. Forty manuscripts were reviewed.
Results:
The current participation of private practitioners in disease surveillance efforts is appalling. The main barriers to their participation are inadequate knowledge leading to unsatisfactory attitudes and misperceptions that influence their practices. Complicated reporting mechanisms with unclear guidelines, along with unsatisfactory attitudes on behalf of the government and surveillance program managers also contribute to the underreporting of cases. Infrastructural barriers especially the availability of computers and skilled human resources are critical to improving private sector participation in routine disease surveillance.
Conclusion:
The issues identified are similar to those for underreporting within the Integrated infectious Disease Surveillance and Response systems (IDSR) which collects data mainly from public healthcare facilities. We recommend that surveillance program officers should provide periodic training, supportive supervision and offer regular feedback to the practitioners from both public as well as private sectors in order to improve case notification. Governments need to take leadership and foster collaborative partnerships between the public and private sectors and most importantly exercise regulatory authority where needed
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