1,593 research outputs found
Modifying the Sum Over Topological Sectors and Constraints on Supergravity
The standard lore about the sum over topological sectors in quantum field
theory is that locality and cluster decomposition uniquely determine the sum
over such sectors, thus leading to the usual theta-vacua. We show that without
changing the local degrees of freedom, a theory can be modified such that the
sum over instantons should be restricted; e.g. one should include only
instanton numbers which are divisible by some integer p. This conclusion about
the configuration space of quantum field theory allows us to carefully
reconsider the quantization of parameters in supergravity. In particular, we
show that FI-terms and nontrivial Kahler forms are quantized. This analysis
also leads to a new derivation of recent results about linearized supergravity.Comment: 17 pages, minor change
N=8 Counterterms and E7(7) Current Conservation
We examine conservation of the E7(7) Noether-Gaillard-Zumino current in the
presence of N=8 supergravity counterterms using the momentum space helicity
formalism, which significantly simplifies the calculations. The main result is
that the 4-point counterterms at any loop order L are forbidden by the E7(7)
current conservation identity. We also clarify the relation between linearized
and full non-linear superinvariants as candidate counterterms. This enables us
to show that all n-point counterterms at L=7, 8 are forbidden since they
provide a non-linear completions of the 4-point ones. This supports and
exemplifies our general proof in arXiv:1103.4115 of perturbative UV finiteness
of N=8 supergravity.Comment: 18 page
Evidence for a Positive Cosmological Constant from Flows of Galaxies and Distant Supernovae
Recent observations of high-redshift supernovae seem to suggest that the
global geometry of the Universe may be affected by a `cosmological constant',
which acts to accelerate the expansion rate with time. But these data by
themselves still permit an open universe of low mass density and no
cosmological constant. Here we derive an independent constraint on the lower
bound to the mass density, based on deviations of galaxy velocities from a
smooth universal expansion. This constraint rules out a low-density open
universe with a vanishing cosmological constant, and together the two favour a
nearly flat universe in which the contributions from mass density and the
cosmological constant are comparable. This type of universe, however, seems to
require a degree of fine tuning of the initial conditions that is in apparent
conflict with `common wisdom'.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure. Slightly revised version. Letter to Natur
E{7(7)} Symmetry and Finiteness of N=8 Supergravity
We study N=8 supergravity deformed by the presence of the candidate
counterterms. We show that even though they are invariant under undeformed
E{7(7)}, all of the candidate counterterms violate the deformed E{7(7)} current
conservation. The same conclusion follows from the uniqueness of the Lorentz
and SU(8) covariant, E{7(7)} invariant unitarity constraint expressing the
56-dimensional E{7(7)} doublet via 28 independent vectors. Therefore E{7(7)}
duality predicts the all-loop UV finiteness of perturbative N=8 supergravity.Comment: 18 page
The Hubble Constant from Observations of the Brightest Red Giant Stars in a Virgo-Cluster Galaxy
The Virgo and Fornax clusters of galaxies play central roles in determining
the Hubble constant H_0. A powerful and direct way of establishing distances
for elliptical galaxies is to use the luminosities of the brightest red-giant
stars (the TRGB luminosity, at M_I = -4.2). Here we report the direct
observation of the TRGB stars in a dwarf elliptical galaxy in the Virgo
cluster. We find its distance to be 15.7 +- 1.5 Megaparsecs, from which we
estimate a Hubble constant of H_0 = 77 +- 8 km/s/Mpc. Under the assumption of a
low-density Universe with the simplest cosmology, the age of the Universe is no
more than 12-13 billion years.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, with 2 postscript figures; in press for Nature, July
199
Comments on Supercurrent Multiplets, Supersymmetric Field Theories and Supergravity
We analyze various supersymmetry multiplets containing the supercurrent and
the energy-momentum tensor. The most widely known such multiplet, the
Ferrara-Zumino (FZ) multiplet, is not always well-defined. This can happen once
Fayet-Iliopoulos (FI) terms are present or when the Kahler form of the target
space is not exact. We present a new multiplet S which always exists. This
understanding of the supersymmetry current allows us to obtain new results
about the possible IR behavior of supersymmetric theories. Next, we discuss the
coupling of rigid supersymmetric theories to supergravity. When the theory has
an FZ-multiplet or it has a global R-symmetry the standard formalism can be
used. But when this is not the case such simple gauging is impossible. Then, we
must gauge the current S. The resulting theory has, in addition to the graviton
and the gravitino, another massless chiral superfield Phi which is essential
for the consistency of the theory. Some of the moduli of various string models
play the role of Phi. Our general considerations, which are based on the
consistency of supergravity, show that such moduli cannot be easily lifted thus
leading to constraints on gravity/string models.Comment: 27 pages. v2: references added and minor changes. v3: minor changes.
v4: minor clarification
Prevalence and Determinants of Obesity among Primary School Children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Childhood obesity has increased dramatically and has become a public health concern worldwide. Childhood obesity is likely to persist through adulthood and may lead to early onset of NCDs. However, there is paucity of data on obesity among primary school children in Tanzania. This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of obesity among primary school children in Dar es Salaam. A cross sectional study was conducted among school age children in randomly selected schools in Dar es Salaam. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were taken using standard procedures. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters (kg/m2). Child obesity was defined as BMI at or above 95th percentile for age and sex. Socio-demographic characteristics of children were determined using a structured questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to determine association between independent variables with obesity among primary school children in Dar es Salaam. A total of 446 children were included in the analysis. The mean age of the participants was 11.1±2.0 years and 53.1% were girls. The mean BMI, SBP and DBP were 16.6±4.0 kg/m2, 103.9±10.3mmHg and 65.6±8.2mmHg respectively. The overall prevalence of child obesity was 5.2% and was higher among girls (6.3%) compared to boys (3.8%). Obese children had significantly higher mean values for age (p=0.042), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (all p<0.001). Most obese children were from households with fewer children (p=0.019) and residing in urban areas (p=0.002). Controlling for other variables, age above 10 years (AOR=3.3, 95% CI=1.5-7.2), female sex (AOR=2.6, 95% CI=1.4-4.9), urban residence (AOR=2.5, 95% CI=1.2-5.3) and having money to spend at school (AOR=2.6, 95% CI=1.4-4.8) were significantly associated with child obesity. The prevalence of childhood obesity in this population was found to be low. However, children from urban schools and girls were proportionately more obese compared to their counterparts. Primary preventive measures for childhood obesity should start early in childhood and address socioeconomic factors of parents contributing to childhood obesity
Distances from Surface Brightness Fluctuations
The practice of measuring galaxy distances from their spatial fluctuations in
surface brightness is now a decade old. While several past articles have
included some review material, this is the first intended as a comprehensive
review of the surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) method. The method is
conceptually quite simple, the basic idea being that nearby (but unresolved)
star clusters and galaxies appear "bumpy", while more distant ones appear
smooth. This is quantified via a measurement of the amplitude of the Poisson
fluctuations in the number of unresolved stars encompassed by a CCD pixel
(usually in an image of an elliptical galaxy). Here, we describe the technical
details and difficulties involved in making SBF measurements, discuss
theoretical and empirical calibrations of the method, and review the numerous
applications of the method from the ground and space, in the optical and
near-infrared. We include discussions of stellar population effects and the
"universality" of the SBF standard candle. A final section considers the future
of the method.Comment: Invited review article to appear in: `Post-Hipparcos Cosmic Candles',
A. Heck & F. Caputo (Eds), Kluwer Academic Publ., Dordrecht, in press. 22
pages, including 3 postscript figures; uses Kluwer's crckapb.sty LaTex macro
file, enclose
The Higgs intense--coupling regime in constrained SUSY models and its astrophysical implications
We analyze the Higgs intense--coupling regime, in which all Higgs particles
of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model are light with masses of the same
order and the value of \tb the ratio of vacuum expectation values of the two
Higgs fields is large, in the framework of Supergravity scenarios with
non--universal soft Supersymmetry breaking scalar masses in the Higgs sector.
In particular, we calculate the relic density abundance of the lightest
neutralino candidate for cold dark matter and the rates in direct and indirect
detection at present and future experiments. We first show that while in the
mSUGRA model this regime is disfavored by present data, there are regions in
the parameter space of models with non--universal Higgs masses where it can
occur. We then show that because of the large value of and the
relatively low values of the neutral Higgs boson masses, the cross section for
neutralino--nucleon scattering is strongly enhanced in this regime and would
allow for the observation of a signal in direct detection experiments such as
CDMS--Soudan. The expected sensitivity of gamma--ray detectors like GLAST might
be also sufficient to observe the annihilation of neutralinos in such a regime.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figure
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) down-regulation in cystic fibrosis lymphocytes
Background: PPARs exhibit anti-inflammatory capacities and are potential modulators of the inflammatory response. We hypothesized that their expression and/or function may be altered in cystic fibrosis (CF), a disorder characterized by an excessive host inflammatory response.
Methods: PPARα, β and γ mRNA levels were measured in peripheral blood cells of CF patients and healthy subjects via RT-PCR. PPARα protein expression and subcellular localization was determined via western blot and immunofluorescence, respectively. The activity of PPARα was analyzed by gel shift assay.
Results: In lymphocytes, the expression of PPARα mRNA, but not of PPARβ, was reduced (-37%; p < 0.002) in CF patients compared with healthy persons and was therefore further analyzed. A similar reduction of PPARα was observed at protein level (-26%; p < 0.05). The transcription factor was mainly expressed in the cytosol of lymphocytes, with low expression in the nucleus. Moreover, DNA binding activity of the transcription factor was 36% less in lymphocytes of patients (p < 0.01). For PPARα and PPARβ mRNA expression in monocytes and neutrophils, no significant differences were observed between CF patients and healthy persons. In all cells, PPARγ mRNA levels were below the detection limit.
Conclusion: Lymphocytes are important regulators of the inflammatory response by releasing cytokines and antibodies. The diminished lymphocytic expression and activity of PPARα may therefore contribute to the inflammatory processes that are observed in CF
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