55 research outputs found
Matrix Models and D-branes in Twistor String Theory
We construct two matrix models from twistor string theory: one by dimensional
reduction onto a rational curve and another one by introducing noncommutative
coordinates on the fibres of the supertwistor space P^(3|4)->CP^1. We comment
on the interpretation of our matrix models in terms of topological D-branes and
relate them to a recently proposed string field theory. By extending one of the
models, we can carry over all the ingredients of the super ADHM construction to
a D-brane configuration in the supertwistor space P^(3|4). Eventually, we
present the analogue picture for the (super) Nahm construction.Comment: 1+37 pages, reference added, JHEP style, published versio
Drinfeld-Twisted Supersymmetry and Non-Anticommutative Superspace
We extend the analysis of hep-th/0408069 on a Lorentz invariant
interpretation of noncommutative spacetime to field theories on
non-anticommutative superspace with half the supersymmetries broken. By
defining a Drinfeld-twisted Hopf superalgebra, it is shown that one can restore
twisted supersymmetry and therefore obtain a twisted version of the chiral
rings along with certain Ward-Takahashi identities. Moreover, we argue that the
representation content of theories on the deformed superspace is identical to
that of their undeformed cousins and comment on the consequences of our
analysis concerning non-renormalization theorems.Comment: 1+17 pages; typos fixed, minor correction
N=1/2 Super Yang-Mills Theory on Euclidean AdS2xS2
We study D-branes in the background of Euclidean AdS2xS2 with a graviphoton
field turned on. As the background is not Ricci flat, the graviphoton field
must have both self-dual and antiself-dual parts. This, in general, will break
all the supersymmetries on the brane. However, we show that there exists a
limit for which one can restore half of the supersymmetries. Further, we show
that in this limit, the N=1/2 SYM Lagrangian on flat space can be lifted on to
the Euclidean AdS2xS2 preserving the same amount of supersymmetries as in the
flat case. We observe that without the C-dependent terms present in the action
this lift is not possible.Comment: 12 pages, latex file; v2: minor corrections, references adde
Instantons in N=1/2 Super Yang-Mills Theory via Deformed Super ADHM Construction
We study an extension of the ADHM construction to give deformed
anti-self-dual (ASD) instantons in N=1/2 super Yang-Mills theory with U(n)
gauge group. First we extend the exterior algebra on superspace to
non(anti)commutative superspace and show that the N=1/2 super Yang-Mills theory
can be reformulated in a geometrical way. By using this exterior algebra, we
formulate a non(anti)commutative version of the super ADHM construction and
show that the curvature two-form superfields obtained by our construction do
satisfy the deformed ASD equations and thus we establish the deformed super
ADHM construction. We also show that the known deformed U(2) one instanton
solution is obtained by this construction.Comment: 32 pages, LaTeX, v2: typos corrected, references adde
On Non-linear Action for Gauged M2-brane
We propose a non-linear extension of U(1) \times U(1) (abelian) ABJM model
including T_{M2} (higher derivative) corrections. The action proposed here is
expected to describe a single M2-brane proving C^4/Z_k target space. The model
includes couplings with the 3-form background in the eleven-dimensional
supergravity which is consistent with the orbifold projection. We show that the
novel higgs mechanism proposed by Mukhi and Papageorgakis does work even in the
presence of higher derivative corrections and couplings with the background
field, giving the correct structure of the Dirac-Born-Infeld action with
Wess-Zumino term for a D2-brane. We also find half BPS solutions in the full
non-linear theory which is interpreted as an another M2-brane intersecting with
the original M2-brane. A possible generalization to U(N) \times U(N) gauge
group is briefly discussed.Comment: 19 pages, no figure, references added, typos correcte
Vertex Operators for Closed Superstrings
We construct an iterative procedure to compute the vertex operators of the
closed superstring in the covariant formalism given a solution of IIA/IIB
supergravity. The manifest supersymmetry allows us to construct vertex
operators for any generic background in presence of Ramond-Ramond (RR) fields.
We extend the procedure to all massive states of open and closed superstrings
and we identify two new nilpotent charges which are used to impose the gauge
fixing on the physical states. We solve iteratively the equations of the vertex
for linear x-dependent RR field strengths. This vertex plays a role in studying
non-constant C-deformations of superspace. Finally, we construct an action for
the free massless sector of closed strings, and we propose a form for the
kinetic term for closed string field theory in the pure spinor formalism.Comment: TeX, harvmac, amssym.tex, 41 pp; references adde
D=2, N=2 Supersymmetric sigma models on Non(anti)commutative Superspace
We extend the results of hep-th/0310137 to show that a general classical
action for D=2, N=2 sigma models on a non(anti)commutative superspace is not
standard and contains infinite number of terms, which depend on the determinant
of the non(anti)commutativity parameter, C^{\alpha\beta}. We show that using
Kahler normal coordinates the action can be written in a manifestly covariant
manner. We introduce vector multiplets and obtain the N=1/2 supersymmetry
transformations of the theory in the Wess-Zumino gauge. By explicitly deriving
the expressions for vector and twisted superfields on non(anti)commutative
superspace, we study the classical aspects of Gauged linear sigma models.Comment: 38 pages, Latex; v3: Minor changes in the text, correction in eqns.
(2.22) and (4.8), added references, version to appear in Phys. Rev.
The Role of Toll-Like Receptor 2 in Inflammation and Fibrosis during Progressive Renal Injury
Tissue fibrosis and chronic inflammation are common causes of progressive organ damage, including progressive renal disease, leading to loss of physiological functions. Recently, it was shown that Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is expressed in the kidney and activated by endogenous danger signals. The expression and function of TLR2 during renal fibrosis and chronic inflammation has however not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we studied TLR2 expression in human and murine progressive renal diseases and explored its role by inducing obstructive nephropathy in TLR2−/− or TLR2+/+ mice. We found that TLR2 is markedly upregulated on tubular and tubulointerstitial cells in patients with chronic renal injury. In mice with obstructive nephropathy, renal injury was associated with a marked upregulation and change in distribution of TLR2 and upregulation of murine TLR2 danger ligands Gp96, biglycan, and HMGB1. Notably, TLR2 enhanced inflammation as reflected by a significantly reduced influx of neutrophils and production of chemokines and TGF-β in kidneys of TLR2−/− mice compared with TLR2+/+ animals. Although, the obstructed kidneys of TLR2−/− mice had less interstitial myofibroblasts in the later phase of obstructive nephropathy, tubular injury and renal matrix accumulation was similar in both mouse strains. Together, these data demonstrate that TLR2 can initiate renal inflammation during progressive renal injury and that the absence of TLR2 does not affect the development of chronic renal injury and fibrosis
Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease
BACKGROUND:
Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes.
METHODS:
We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization.
RESULTS:
During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events.
CONCLUSIONS:
Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)
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