2,234 research outputs found
UV-Completion by Classicalization
We suggest a novel approach to UV-completion of a class of non-renormalizable
theories, according to which the high-energy scattering amplitudes get
unitarized by production of extended classical objects (classicalons), playing
a role analogous to black holes, in the case of non-gravitational theories. The
key property of classicalization is the existence of a classicalizer field that
couples to energy-momentum sources. Such localized sources are excited in
high-energy scattering processes and lead to the formation of classicalons. Two
kinds of natural classicalizers are Nambu-Goldstone bosons (or, equivalently,
longitudinal polarizations of massive gauge fields) and scalars coupled to
energy-momentum type sources. Classicalization has interesting phenomenological
applications for the UV-completion of the Standard Model both with or without
the Higgs. In the Higgless Standard Model the high-energy scattering amplitudes
of longitudinal -bosons self-unitarize via classicalization, without the
help of any new weakly-coupled physics. Alternatively, in the presence of a
Higgs boson, classicalization could explain the stabilization of the hierarchy.
In both scenarios the high-energy scatterings are dominated by the formation of
classicalons, which subsequently decay into many particle states. The
experimental signatures at the LHC are quite distinctive, with sharp
differences in the two cases.Comment: 37 page
Large Representation Recurrences in Large N Random Unitary Matrix Models
In a random unitary matrix model at large N, we study the properties of the
expectation value of the character of the unitary matrix in the rank k
symmetric tensor representation. We address the problem of whether the standard
semiclassical technique for solving the model in the large N limit can be
applied when the representation is very large, with k of order N. We find that
the eigenvalues do indeed localize on an extremum of the effective potential;
however, for finite but sufficiently large k/N, it is not possible to replace
the discrete eigenvalue density with a continuous one. Nonetheless, the
expectation value of the character has a well-defined large N limit, and when
the discreteness of the eigenvalues is properly accounted for, it shows an
intriguing approximate periodicity as a function of k/N.Comment: 24 pages, 11 figure
Classicalization of Gravitons and Goldstones
We establish a close parallel between classicalization of gravitons and
derivatively-coupled Nambu-Goldstone-type scalars. We show, that black hole
formation in high energy scattering process represents classicalization with
the classicalization radius given by Schwarzschild radius of center of mass
energy, and with the precursor of black hole entropy being given by number of
soft quanta composing this classical configuration. Such an entropy-equivalent
is defined for scalar classicalons also and is responsible for exponential
suppression of their decay into small number of final particles. This parallel
works in both ways. For optimists that are willing to hypothesize that gravity
may indeed self-unitarize at high energies via black hole formation, it
illustrates that the Goldstones may not be much different in this respect, and
they classicalize essentially by similar dynamics as gravitons. In the other
direction, it may serve as an useful de-mystifier of
via-black-hole-unitarization process and of the role of entropy in it, as it
illustrates, that much more prosaic scalar theories essentially do the same.
Finally, it illustrates that in both cases classicalization is the defining
property for unitarization, and that it sets-in before one can talk about
accompanying properties, such as entropy and thermality of static classicalons
(black holes). These properties are by-products of classicalization, and their
equivalents can be defined for non-gravitational cases of classicalization.Comment: 23 page
Chiral Generations on Intersecting 5-branes in Heterotic String Theory
We show that there exist two 27 and one 27 bar of E6, net one D=4, N=1 chiral
matter supermultiplet as zero modes localized on the intersection of two
5-branes in the E8 x E8 heterotic string theory. The smeared intersecting
5-brane solution is used via the standard embedding to construct a heterotic
background, which provides, after a compactification of some of the transverse
dimensions, a five-dimensional Randall-Sundrum II like brane-world set-up in
heterotic string theory. As a by-product, we present a new proof of anomaly
cancellation between those from the chiral matter and the anomaly inflow onto
the brane without small instanton.Comment: 26 pages, 5 figures; references added, typo correcte
Pair Production of small Black Holes in Heterotic String Theories
We study pair production of small BPS BH's in heterotic strings compactified
on tori and in the FHSV model. After recalling the identification of small BH's
in the perturbative BPS spectrum, we compute the tree-level amplitudes for
processes initiated by massless vector bosons or gravitons. We then analyze the
resulting cross sections in terms of energy and angular distributions. Finally,
we briefly comment on scenari with large extra dimensions and on
generalizations of our results to non-BPS, non-extremal and rotating BH's.Comment: 33 page
Mirroring everyday clinical practice in clinical trial design: a new concept to improve the external validity of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials in the pharmacological treatment of major depression
Background: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials constitute the gold standard in clinical research when testing the efficacy of new psychopharmacological interventions in the treatment of major depression. However, the blinded use of placebo has been found to influence clinical trial outcomes and may bias patient
selection.
Discussion: To improve clinical trial design in major depression so as to reflect clinical practice more closely we propose to present patients with a balanced view of the benefits of study participation irrespective of their assignment to placebo or active treatment. In addition every participant should be given the option to finally
receive the active medication. A research agenda is outlined to evaluate the impact of the proposed changes on the efficacy of the drug to be evaluated and on the demographic and clinical characteristics of the enrollment fraction with regard to its representativeness of the eligible population.
Summary: We propose a list of measures to be taken to improve the external validity of double-blind, placebocontrolled trials in major depression. The recommended changes to clinical trial design may also be relevant for other psychiatric as well as medical disorders in which expectations regarding treatment outcome may affect the
outcome itself
Transplanckian axions !?
We discuss quantum gravitational effects in Einstein theory coupled to
periodic axion scalars to analyze the viability of several proposals to achieve
superplanckian axion periods (aka decay constants) and their possible
application to large field inflation models. The effects we study correspond to
the nucleation of euclidean gravitational instantons charged under the axion,
and our results are essentially compatible with (but independent of) the Weak
Gravity Conjecture, as follows: Single axion theories with superplanckian
periods contain gravitational instantons inducing sizable higher harmonics in
the axion potential, which spoil superplanckian inflaton field range. A similar
result holds for multi-axion models with lattice alignment (like the
Kim-Nilles-Peloso model). Finally, theories with axions can still achieve a
moderately superplanckian periodicity (by a factor) with no higher
harmonics in the axion potential. The Weak Gravity Conjecture fails to hold in
this case due to the absence of some instantons, which are forbidden by a
discrete gauge symmetry. Finally we discuss the realization of
these instantons as euclidean D-branes in string compactifications.Comment: 46 pages, 6 figures. Added references, clarifications, and missing
factor of 1/2 to instanton action. Conclusions unchange
Primary multifocal osseous Hodgkin's lymphoma
BackgroundHodgkin's disease (HD) most commonly presents with progressive painless enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes, especially around the cervical region. A few children have systemic symptoms and weight loss. At the time of diagnosis, osseous involvement is uncommonCase presentationA case is described of Primary Multifocal Osseous Hodgkin's Lymphoma in a seven-year-old boy. He presented with a painful swelling in the sternum, and further investigations revealed deposits in his L1 vertebra, the left sacro-iliac joint and the right acetabulum.ConclusionThe clinical, radiological and histological features of this disease can mimic other medical conditions, including Tuberculosis, making the diagnosis difficult and often leading to delays in treatment. This is a very rare condition and we believe this to be the youngest reported case in the literature
Allelic expression analysis of the osteoarthritis susceptibility locus that maps to MICAL3
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A genome-wide association scan with subsequent replication study that involved over 67,000 individuals of European ancestry has produced evidence of association of single nucleotide polymorphism rs2277831 to primary osteoarthritis (OA) with a P-value of 2.9 Ă 10<sup>-5</sup>. rs2277831, an A/G transition, is located in an intron of <it>MICAL3</it>. This gene is located on chromosome 22q11.21 and the association signal encompasses two additional genes, <it>BCL2L13 </it>and <it>BID</it>. It is becoming increasingly apparent that many common complex traits are mediated by <it>cis</it>-acting regulatory polymorphisms that influence, in a tissue-specific manner, gene expression or transcript stability.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used total and allelic expression analysis to assess whether the OA association to rs2277831 is mediated by an influence on MICAL3, BCL2L13 or BID expression. Using RNA extracted from joint tissues of 60 patients who had undergone elective joint replacement surgery, we assessed whether rs2277831 correlated with allelic expression of either of the three genes by: 1) measuring the expression of each gene by quantitative PCR and then stratifying the data by genotype at rs2277831 and 2) accurately discriminating and quantifying the mRNA synthesised from the alleles of OA patients using allelic-quantitative PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found no evidence for a correlation between gene expression and genotype at rs2277831, with P-values of 0.09 for <it>BCL2L13</it>, 0.07 for <it>BID </it>and 0.33 for <it>MICAL3</it>. In the allelic expression analysis we observed several examples of significant (p < 0.05) allelic imbalances, with an allelic expression ratio of 2.82 observed in <it>BCL2L13 </it>(P = 0.004), 2.09 at <it>BID </it>(P = 0.001) and the most extreme case being at <it>MICAL3</it>, with an allelic expression ratio of 5.47 (P = 0.001). However, there was no correlation observed between the pattern of allelic expression and the genotype at rs2277831.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In the tissues that we have studied, our data do not support our hypothesis that the association between rs2277831 and OA is due to the effect this SNP has on <it>MICAL3, BCL2L13 </it>or <it>BID </it>gene expression. Instead, our data point towards other functional effects accounting for the OA associated signal.</p
- âŠ