Precision tunable resonant microwave cavity

A tunable microwave cavity containing ionizable metallic vapor or gases and an apparatus for precisely positioning a microwave coupling tip in the cavity and for precisely adjusting at least one dimension of the cavity are disclosed. With this combined structure, resonance may be achieved with various types of ionizable gases. A coaxial probe extends into a microwave cavity through a tube. One end of the tube is retained in a spherical joint attached in the cavity wall. This allows the coaxial probe to be pivotally rotated. The coaxial probe is slideable within the tube thus allowing the probe to be extended toward or retracted from the center of the cavity

On the duality in CPT-even Lorentz-breaking theories

In this paper, we generalize the duality between self-dual and Maxwell-Chern-Simons theories for the case of a CPT-even Lorentz-breaking extension of these theories. The duality is demonstrated with use of the gauge embedding procedure, both in free and coupled cases, and with the master action approach. The physical spectra of both Lorentz-breaking theories are studied. The massive poles are shown to coincide and to respect the requirements for unitarity and causality at tree level. The extra massless poles which are present in the dualized model are shown to be nondynamical.Comment: 17 pages, version accepted to EPJ

A new spin-2 self-dual model in D=2+1D=2+1

There are three self-dual models of massive particles of helicity +2 (or -2) in $D=2+1$. Each model is of first, second, and third-order in derivatives. Here we derive a new self-dual model of fourth-order, \cL {SD}^{(4)}, which follows from the third-order model (linearized topologically massive gravity) via Noether embedment of the linearized Weyl symmetry. In fact, each self-dual model can be obtained from the previous one \cL {SD}^{(i)} \to \cL {SD}^{(i+1)}, i=1,2,3 by the Noether embedment of an appropriate gauge symmetry, culminating in \cL {SD}^{(4)}. The new model may be identified with the linearized version of \cL {HDTMG} = \epsilon^{\mu\nu\rho} \Gamma_{\mu\gamma}^\epsilon (\p_\nu\Gamma_{\epsilon\rho}^\gamma + (2/3)\Gamma_{\nu\delta}^\gamma \Gamma_{\rho\epsilon}^\delta) /8 m + \sqrt{-g}(R_{\mu\nu} R^{\nu\mu} - 3 R^2/8) /2 m^2 . We also construct a master action relating the third-order self-dual model to \cL {SD}^{(4)} by means of a mixing term with no particle content which assures spectrum equivalence of \cL {SD}^{(4)} to other lower-order self-dual models despite its pure higher derivative nature and the absence of the Einstein-Hilbert action. The relevant degrees of freedom of \cL {SD}^{(4)} are encoded in a rank-two tensor which is symmetric, traceless and transverse due to trivial (non-dynamic) identities, contrary to other spin-2 self-dual models. We also show that the Noether embedment of the Fierz-Pauli theory leads to the new massive gravity of Bergshoeff, Hohm and Townsend.Comment: 14 pages, no figures, typos fixed, reference (19) modifie

Dual embedding of the Lorentz-violating electrodinamics and Batalin-Vilkovisky quantization

Modifications of the electromagnetic Maxwell Lagrangian in four dimensions have been considered by some authors. One may include an explicit massive term (Proca) and a topological but not Lorentz-invariant term within certain observational limits. We find the dual-corresponding gauge invariant version of this theory by using the recently suggested gauge embedding method. We enforce this dualisation procedure by showing that, in many cases, this is actually a constructive method to find a sort of parent action, which manifestly establishes duality. We also use the gauge invariant version of this theory to formulate a Batalin-Vilkovisky quantization and present a detailed discussion on the excitation spectrum.Comment: 8 page

Effective potential in Lorentz-breaking field theory models

We calculate explicitly the one-loop effective potential in different Lorentz-breaking field theory models. First, we consider a Yukawa-like theory and, then, some examples of Lorentz-violating extensions of scalar QED. We observed, for the extended QED models, that the resulting effective potential converges to the known result in the limit in which Lorentz-symmetry is restored. Besides, the one-loop corrections to the effective potential in all the cases we studied depend on the background tensors responsible for the Lorentz symmetry violation. This have consequences in physical quantities like, for example, in the induced mass due to Coleman-Weinberg mechanism.Comment: Version accepted for publication in EPJ

Poor Outcome in a Mitochondrial Neurogastrointestinal Encephalomyopathy Patient with a Novel TYMP Mutation: The Need for Early Diagnosis.

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is a devastating autosomal recessive disorder due to mutations in TYMP, which cause loss of function of thymidine phosphorylase (TP), nucleoside accumulation in plasma and tissues and mitochondrial dysfunction. The clinical picture includes progressive gastrointestinal dysmotility, cachexia, ptosis and ophthalmoparesis, peripheral neuropathy and diffuse leukoencephalopathy, which usually lead to death in early adulthood. Therapeutic options are currently available in clinical practice (allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and carrier erythrocyte entrapped TP therapy) and newer, promising therapies are expected in the near future. However, successful treatment is strictly related to early diagnosis. We report on an incomplete MNGIE phenotype in a young man harboring the novel heterozygote c.199 C>T (Q67X) mutation in exon 2, and the previously reported c.866 A>C (E289A) mutation in exon 7 in TYMP. The correct diagnosis was achieved many years after the onset of symptoms and unfortunately, the patient died soon after diagnosis because of multiorgan failure due to severe malnutrition and cachexia before any therapeutic option could be tried. To date, early diagnosis is essential to ensure that patients have the opportunity to be treated. MNGIE should be suspected in all patients who present with both gastrointestinal and nervous system involvement, even if the classical complete phenotype is lacking

Prospective study of a molecular selection profile for RAS wild type colorectal cancer patients receiving irinotecan-cetuximab

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate whether a panel of biomarkers, prospectively analysed might be able to predict patients' clinical outcome more accurately than RAS status alone. Methods: K-RAS (exons 2, 3, 4) wild type colorectal cancer patients, candidates to second/third-line cetuximab with chemotherapy were prospectively allocated into 2 groups on the basis of their profile: favourable (BRAF and PIK3CA exon 20 wild type, EGFR GCN ≥ 2.6, HER-3 Rajkumar score ≤ 8, IGF-1 immunostaining < 2) or unfavourable (any of the previous markers altered or mutated). After the introduction of N-RAS status (exons 2, 3, 4) only RAS wild type patients were considered eligible. Results: Forty-six patients were enrolled. Seventeen patients (37%) were allocated to the favourable and 29 patients (63%) to the unfavourable profile. RR in the favourable and unfavourable group was 11/17 (65%) and 2/29 (7%) (p = 0.007) respectively. The favourable group also showed an improved PFS (8months vs. 3months, p < 0.0001) and OS (15months vs. 6months, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that prospective selection of optimal candidates for cetuximab treatment is feasible and may be able to improve clinical outcom