Phenomenological description of quantum gravity inspired modified classical electrodynamics

We discuss a large class of phenomenological models incorporating quantum gravity motivated corrections to electrodynamics. The framework is that of electrodynamics in a birefringent and dispersive medium with non-local constitutive relations, which are considered up to second order in the inverse of the energy characterizing the quantum gravity scale. The energy-momentum tensor, Green functions and frequency dependent refraction indices are obtained, leading to departures from standard physics. The effective character of the theory is also emphasized by introducing a frequency cutoff. The analysis of its effects upon the standard notion of causality is performed, showing that in the radiation regime the expected corrections get further suppressed by highly oscillating terms, thus forbiding causality violations to show up in the corresponding observational effects.Comment: 14 pages, to be published in Obregon Festschrift 2006, Gen. Rel. and Gra

N=4 superconformal mechanics as a Non linear Realization

An action for a superconformal particle is constructed using the non linear realization method for the group PSU(1,1|2), without introducing superfields. The connection between PSU(1,1|2) and black hole physics is discussed. The lagrangian contains six arbitrary constants and describes a non-BPS superconformal particle. The BPS case is obtained if a precise relation between the constants in the lagrangian is verified, which implies that the action becomes kappa-symmetric.Comment: new subection, references added and new acknowledgment

Phenomenology of symmetry breaking from extra dimensions

Motivated by the electroweak hierarchy problem, we consider theories with two extra dimensions in which the four-dimensional scalar fields are components of gauge boson in full space. We explore the Nielsen-Olesen instability for SU(N) on a torus, in the presence of a magnetic background. A field theory approach is developed, computing explicitly the minimum of the complete effective potential, including tri-linear and quartic couplings and determining the symmetries of the stable vacua. We also develop appropriate gauge-fixing terms when both Kaluza-Klein and Landau levels are present and interacting, discussing the interplay between the possible six and four dimensional choices. The equivalence between coordinate dependent and constant Scherk-Schwarz boundary conditions -associated to either continuous or discrete Wilson lines- is analyzed.Comment: 39 pages and 8 eps figures. Few changes in section

High Energy Theorems at Large-N

Sum rules for products of two, three and four QCD currents are derived using chiral symmetry at infinite momentum in the large-N limit. These exact relations among meson decay constants, axialvector couplings and masses determine the asymptotic behavior of an infinite number of QCD correlators. The familiar spectral function sum rules for products of two QCD currents are among the relations derived. With this precise knowledge of asymptotic behavior, an infinite number of large-N QCD correlators can be constructed using dispersion relations. A detailed derivation is given of the exact large-N pion vector form factor and forward pion-pion scattering amplitudes.Comment: 34 pages TeX and mtexsis.tex, 10 figures (uses epsf

CPT Violation and Decoherence in Quantum Gravity

In these lectures I review, in as much pedagogical way as possible, various theoretical ideas and motivation for violation of CPT invariance in some models of Quantum Gravity, and discuss the relevant phenomenology. Since the subject is vast, I pay particular emphasis on the CPT Violating decoherence scenario for quantum gravity, due to space-time foam. In my opinion this seems to be the most likely scenario to be realised in Nature, should quantum gravity be responsible for the violation of this symmetry. In this context, I also discuss how the CPT Violating decoherence scenario can explain experimental ``anomalies'' in neutrino data, such as LSND results, in agreement with the rest of the presently available data, without enlarging the neutrino sector.Comment: 74 pages LATEX, Submitted to Lect. Notes Phys. (Springer), based on invited lectures at the 40th Winter School in Poland, February 200

Trabectedin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in relapsed ovarian cancer: outcomes in the partially platinum-sensitive (platinum-free interval 6–12 months) subpopulation of OVA-301 phase III randomized trial

Background: OVA-301 is a large randomized trial that showed superiority of trabectedin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) over PLD alone in relapsed ovarian cancer. The optimal management of patients with partially platinum-sensitive relapse [6–12 months platinum-free interval (PFI)] is unclear

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection