Solving the Topological String on K3 Fibrations

We present solutions of the holomorphic anomaly equations for compact two-parameter Calabi-Yau manifolds which are hypersurfaces in weighted projective space. In particular we focus on K3-fibrations where due to heterotic type II duality the topological invariants in the fibre direction are encoded in certain modular forms. The formalism employed provides holomorphic expansions of topological string amplitudes everywhere in moduli space.Comment: 60 pages, 1 figure, With an appendix by Sheldon Kat

Planar and Nonplanar Konishi Anomalies and Effective Superpotential for Noncommutative N=1 Supersymmetric U(1)

The Konishi anomalies for noncommutative N=1 supersymmetric U(1) gauge theory arising from planar and nonplanar diagrams are calculated. Whereas planar Konishi anomaly is the expected \star-deformation of the commutative anomaly, nonplanar anomaly reflects the important features of nonplanar diagrams of noncommutative gauge theories, such as UV/IR mixing and the appearance of nonlocal open Wilson lines. We use the planar and nonplanar Konishi anomalies to calculate the effective superpotential of the theory. In the limit of vanishing |\Theta p|, with \Theta the noncommutativity parameter, the noncommutative effective superpotential depends on a gauge invariant superfield, which includes supersymmetric Wilson lines, and has nontrivial dependence on the gauge field supermultiplet.Comment: LaTeX, 36 pages. Version 2: Typos Corrected. Version 3: Extensively revised version, 42 pages, to be published in Int. J. Mod. Phys. A. (2005

Note on New KLT relations

In this short note, we present two results about KLT relations discussed in recent several papers. Our first result is the re-derivation of Mason-Skinner MHV amplitude by applying the S_{n-3} permutation symmetric KLT relations directly to MHV amplitude. Our second result is the equivalence proof of the newly discovered S_{n-2} permutation symmetric KLT relations and the well-known S_{n-3} permutation symmetric KLT relations. Although both formulas have been shown to be correct by BCFW recursion relations, our result is the first direct check using the regularized definition of the new formula.Comment: 15 Pages; v2: minor correction

The Momentum Kernel of Gauge and Gravity Theories

We derive an explicit formula for factorizing an $n$-point closed string amplitude into open string amplitudes. Our results are phrased in terms of a momentum kernel which in the limit of infinite string tension reduces to the corresponding field theory kernel. The same momentum kernel encodes the monodromy relations which lead to the minimal basis of color-ordered amplitudes in Yang-Mills theory. There are interesting consequences of the momentum kernel pertaining to soft limits of amplitudes. We also comment on surprising links between gravity and certain combinations of kinematic and color factors in gauge theory.Comment: 19 pages, 1 figur

The Kinematic Algebra From the Self-Dual Sector

We identify a diffeomorphism Lie algebra in the self-dual sector of Yang-Mills theory, and show that it determines the kinematic numerators of tree-level MHV amplitudes in the full theory. These amplitudes can be computed off-shell from Feynman diagrams with only cubic vertices, which are dressed with the structure constants of both the Yang-Mills colour algebra and the diffeomorphism algebra. Therefore, the latter algebra is the dual of the colour algebra, in the sense suggested by the work of Bern, Carrasco and Johansson. We further study perturbative gravity, both in the self-dual and in the MHV sectors, finding that the kinematic numerators of the theory are the BCJ squares of the Yang-Mills numerators.Comment: 29 pages, 5 figures. v2: references added, published versio

On tree amplitudes with gluons coupled to gravitons

In this paper, we study the tree amplitudes with gluons coupled to gravitons. We first study the relations among the mixed amplitudes. With BCFW on-shell recursion relation, we will show the color-order reversed relation, $U(1)$-decoupling relation and KK relation hold for tree amplitudes with gluons coupled to gravitons. We then study the disk relation which expresses mixed amplitudes by pure gluon amplitudes. More specifically we will prove the disk relation for mixed amplitudes with gluons coupled to one graviton. Using the disk relation and the properties of pure gluon amplitudes, the color-order reversed relation, $U(1)$-decoupling relation and KK relation for mixed amplitudes can also be proved. Finally, we give some brief discussions on BCJ-like relation for mixed amplitudes.Comment: 33pages,no figur

Proof of Gravity and Yang-Mills Amplitude Relations

Using BCFW on-shell recursion techniques, we prove a sequence of explicit n-point Kawai-Lewellen-Tye relations between gravity and Yang-Mills amplitudes at tree level.Comment: 17 pages, no figures, JHE

PPAR? Downregulation by TGF in Fibroblast and Impaired Expression and Function in Systemic Sclerosis: A Novel Mechanism for Progressive Fibrogenesis

The nuclear orphan receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) is expressed in multiple cell types in addition to adipocytes. Upon its activation by natural ligands such as fatty acids and eicosanoids, or by synthetic agonists such as rosiglitazone, PPAR-γ regulates adipogenesis, glucose uptake and inflammatory responses. Recent studies establish a novel role for PPAR-γ signaling as an endogenous mechanism for regulating transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß)- dependent fibrogenesis. Here, we sought to characterize PPAR-γ function in the prototypic fibrosing disorder systemic sclerosis (SSc), and delineate the factors governing PPAR-γ expression. We report that PPAR-γ levels were markedly diminished in skin and lung biopsies from patients with SSc, and in fibroblasts explanted from the lesional skin. In normal fibroblasts, treatment with TGF-ß resulted in a time- and dose-dependent down-regulation of PPAR-γ expression. Inhibition occurred at the transcriptional level and was mediated via canonical Smad signal transduction. Genome-wide expression profiling of SSc skin biopsies revealed a marked attenuation of PPAR-γ levels and transcriptional activity in a subset of patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc, which was correlated with the presence of a ''TGF-ß responsive gene signature'' in these biopsies. Together, these results demonstrate that the expression and function of PPAR-γ are impaired in SSc, and reveal the existence of a reciprocal inhibitory cross-talk between TGF-ß activation and PPAR-γ signaling in the context of fibrogenesis. In light of the potent anti-fibrotic effects attributed to PPAR-γ, these observations lead us to propose that excessive TGF-ß activity in SSc accounts for impaired PPAR-γ function, which in turn contributes to unchecked fibroblast activation and progressive fibrosis. © 2010 Wei et al

Angiogenesis Markers Quantification in Breast Cancer and Their Correlation with Clinicopathological Prognostic Variables

Tumoural angiogenesis is essential for the growth and spread of breast cancer cells. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of angiogenesis markers in tumours and there reflecting levels in serum of breast cancer patients. Angiogenin, Ang2, fibroblast growth factor basic, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and VEGF-A were measured using a FASTQuant angiogenic growth factor multiplex protein assay. We observed that breast cancer tumours exhibited high levels of PDGF-BB, bFGF and VEGF, and extremely high levels of TIMP-1 and Ang-2, whereas in serum we found significantly higher levels of Ang-2, PDGF-BB, bFGF, ICAM-1 and VEGF in patients with breast cancer compared to the benign breast diseases patients. Moreover, some of these angiogenesis markers evaluated in tumour and serum of breast cancer patients exhibited association with standard clinical parameters, ER status as well as MVD of tumours. Angiogenesis markers play important roles in tumour growth, invasion and metastasis. Our results suggest that analysis of angiogenesis markers in tumour and serum of breast cancer patients using multiplex protein assay can improve diagnosis and prognosis in this diseases

An analysis of the temperature dependence of force, during steady shortening at different velocities, in (mammalian) fast muscle fibres

We examined, over a wide range of temperatures (10–35°C), the isometric tension and tension during ramp shortening at different velocities (0.2–4 L0/s) in tetanized intact fibre bundles from a rat fast (flexor hallucis brevis) muscle; fibre length (L0) was 2.2 mm and sarcomere length ~2.5 μm. During a ramp shortening, the tension change showed an initial inflection of small amplitude (P1), followed by a larger exponential decline towards an approximate steady level; the tension continued to decline slowly afterwards and the approximate steady tension at a given velocity was estimated as the tension (P2) at the point of intersection between two linear slopes, as previously described (Roots et al. 2007). At a given temperature, the tension P2 declined to a lower level and at a faster rate (from an exponential curve fit) as the shortening velocity was increased; the temperature sensitivity of the rate of tension decline during ramp shortening at different velocities was low (Q10 0.9–1.5). The isometric tension and the P2 tension at a given shortening velocity increased with warming so that the relation between tension and (reciprocal) temperature was sigmoidal in both. In isometric muscle, the temperature T0.5 for half-maximal tension was ~10°C, activation enthalpy change (∆H) was ~100 kJ mol−1 and entropy change (∆S) ~350 J mol−1 K−1. In shortening, these were increased with increase of velocity so that at a shortening velocity (~4 L0/s) producing maximal power at 35°C, T0.5 was ~28°C, ∆H was ~200 kJ mol−1 and ∆S ~ 700 J mol−1 K−1; the same trends were seen in the tension data from isotonic release experiments on intact muscle and in ramp shortening experiments on maximally Ca-activated skinned fibres. In general, our findings show that the sigmoidal relation between force and temperature can be extended from isometric to shortening muscle; the implications of the findings are discussed in relation to the crossbridge cycle. The data indicate that the endothermic, entropy driven process that underlies crossbridge force generation in isometric muscle (Zhao and Kawai 1994; Davis, 1998) is even more pronounced in shortening muscle, i.e. when doing external work