Closed strings in Ramond-Ramond backgrounds

We write the IIB Green-Schwarz action in certain general classes of curved backgrounds threaded with Ramond-Ramond fluxes. The fixing of the kappa symmetry in the light-cone gauge and the use of supergravity Bianchi identities simplify the task. We find an expression that truncates to quartic order in the spacetime spinors and relays interesting information about the vacuum structure of the worldsheet theory. The results are particularly useful in exploring integrable string dynamics in the context of the holographic duality.Comment: 24 pages; this is a significant revision to hep-th/0112063 with new results added, and including comparison with recent literature; v2: minor typos corrected, citations adde

Nuclear symmetry energy effects on neutron stars properties

We construct a class of nuclear equations of state based on a schematic potential model, that originates from the work of Prakash et. al. \cite{Prakash-88}, which reproduce the results of most microscopic calculations. The equations of state are used as input for solving the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov equations for corresponding neutron stars. The potential part contribution of the symmetry energy to the total energy is parameterized in a generalized form both for low and high values of the baryon density. Special attention is devoted to the construction of the symmetry energy in order to reproduce the results of most microscopic calculations of dense nuclear matter. The obtained nuclear equations of state are applied for the systematic study of the global properties of a neutron star (masses, radii and composition). The calculated masses and radii of the neutron stars are plotted as a function of the potential part parameters of the symmetry energy. A linear relation between these parameters, the radius and the maximum mass of the neutron star is obtained. In addition, a linear relation between the radius and the derivative of the symmetry energy near the saturation density is found. We also address on the problem of the existence of correlation between the pressure near the saturation density and the radius.Comment: 17 pages, 25 figure

Gravitational Radiation from Pulsating White Dwarfs

Rotating white dwarfs undergoing quasi-radial oscillations can emit gravitational radiation in a frequency range from 0.1 - 0.3 Hz. Assuming that the energy source for the gravitational radiation comes from the oblateness of the white dwarf induced by the rotation, the strain amplitude is found to be \sim 10^{-27} for a white dwarf at \sim 50 pc. The galactic population of these sources is estimated to be \sim 10^7, and may produce a confusion limited foreground for proposed advanced detectors in the frequency band between space-based and ground-based interferometers. Nearby oscillating white dwarfs may provide a clear enough signal to investigate white dwarf interiors through gravitational wave asteroseismology.Comment: Accepted for Astrophysical Journal Letters. Changed value of branching ratio resulting in an order of magnitude drop in gravitational wave amplitude

Is objective and accurate cognitive assessment across the menstrual cycle possible? A feasibility study

YesOBJECTIVES: Variation in plasma hormone levels influences the neurobiology of brain regions involved in cognition and emotion processing. Fluctuations in hormone levels across the menstrual cycle could therefore alter cognitive performance and wellbeing; reports have provided conflicting results, however. The aim of this study was to assess whether objective assessment of cognitive performance and self-reported wellbeing during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle is feasible and investigate the possible reasons for variation in effects previously reported. METHODS: The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were used to assess the cognitive performance and wellbeing of 12 women. Data were analysed by self-reported and hormone-estimated phases of the menstrual cycle. RESULTS: Recruitment to the study and assessment of cognition and wellbeing was without issue. Plasma hormone and peptide estimation showed substantial individual variation and suggests inaccuracy in self-reported menstrual phase estimation. CONCLUSION: Objective assessment of cognitive performance and self-assessed wellbeing across the menstrual cycle is feasible. Grouping data by hormonal profile rather by self-reported phase estimation may influence phase-mediated results. Future studies should use plasma hormone and peptide profiles to estimate cycle phase and group data for analyses

Observation of Resonant Diffusive Radiation in Random Multilayered Systems

Diffusive Radiation is a new type of radiation predicted to occur in randomly inhomogeneous media due to the multiple scattering of pseudophotons. This theoretical effect is now observed experimentally. The radiation is generated by the passage of electrons of energy 200KeV-2.2MeV through a random stack of films in the visible light region. The radiation intensity increases resonantly provided the Cherenkov condition is satisfied for the average dielectric constant of the medium. The observed angular dependence and electron resonance energy are in agreement with the theoretical predictions. These observations open a road to application of diffusive radiation in particle detection, astrophysics, soft X-ray generation and etc.. `Comment: 4pages, 4figure

A review of molecular genetic studies of neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a complex and debilitating illness with strong genetic loading. In line with its heterogeneous symptomatology, evidence suggests genetic etiologies for the phenotypes in schizophrenia. A search across endophenotypes has pointed towards consistent findings in its neurocognitive deficits. Extensive literature has demonstrated impaired cognition including executive function, attention, and memory in schizophrenia patients when compared to healthy subjects. This review (1) provides an overview of recent studies and (2) develops an up-to-date conceptualization of genetic variations influencing neurocognitive functions in schizophrenia patients. Several neurotransmitter system genes have been examined given knowledge of their role in brain functions and their reported genetic associations with schizophrenia and cognition. Several genetic variations have emerged as having preliminary effects on neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia. These include genes in the neurotrophic, serotonin, cell adhesion, and sodium channel systems. Limited evidence also suggests the dopaminergic system genes, with the most studied catechol-o-methytransferase (COMT) gene showing inconsistent findings. Further investigations with larger samples and replications are required to elucidate genetic risk for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia

Impaired sustained attention and executive dysfunction:bipolar disorder versus depression-specific markers of affective disorders

Objective - To identify neurocognitive measures that could be used as objective markers of bipolar disorder. Methods - We examined executive function, sustained attention and short-term memory as neurocognitive domains in 18 participants with bipolar disorder in euthymic state (Beuth), 14 in depressed state (Bdep), 20 with unipolar depression (Udep) and 28 healthy control participants (HC). We conducted four-group comparisons followed by relevant post hoc analyses. Results - Udep and Bdep, but not Beuth showed impaired executive function (p = 0.045 and p = 0.046, respectively). Both Bdep and Beuth, but not Udep, showed impaired sustained attention (p = 0.001 and p = 0.045, respectively). The four groups did not differ significantly on short-term memory. Impaired sustained attention and executive dysfunction were not associated with depression severity, duration of illness and age of illness onset. Only a small number of abnormal neurocognitive measures were associated with medication in Bdep and Beuth. Conclusion - Impaired sustained attention appears specific to bipolar disorder and present in both Beuth and Bdep; it may represent an objective marker of bipolar disorder. Executive dysfunction by contrast, appears to be present in Udep and Bdep and likely represents a marker of depression

On the new massive gravity and AdS/CFT

Demanding the existence of a simple holographic $c$-theorem, it is shown that a general (parity preserving) theory of gravity in 2+1 dimensions involving upto four derivative curvature invariants reduces to the new massive gravity theory. We consider extending the theory including upto six derivative curvature invariants. Black hole solutions are presented and consistency with 1+1 CFTs is checked. We present evidence that bulk unitarity is still in conflict with a positive CFT central charge for generic choice of parameters. However, for a special choice of parameters appearing in the four and six derivative terms reduces the linearized equations to be two derivative, thereby ameliorating the unitarity problem.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures. v4: typo correcte