4,189 research outputs found
A WZW model based on a non-semi-simple group
We present a conformal field theory which desribes a homogeneous four
dimensional Lorentz-signature space-time. The model is an ungauged WZW model
based on a central extension of the Poincar\'e algebra. The central charge of
this theory is exactly four, just like four dimensional Minkowski space. The
model can be interpreted as a four dimensional monochromatic plane wave. As
there are three commuting isometries, other interesting geometries are expected
to emerge via duality.Comment: 8 pages, phyzzx, IASSNS-HEP-93/61 Texable versio
Exactly solvable models in 2D semiclassical dilaton gravity and extremal black holes
Previously known exactly solvable models of 2D semiclassical dilaton gravity
admit, in the general case, only non-extreme black holes. It is shown that
there exist exceptional degenerate cases, that can be obtained by some limiting
transitions from the general exact solution, which include, in particular,
extremal and ultraextremal black holes. We also analyze properties of extreme
black holes without demanding exact solvability and show that for such
solutions quantum backreaction forbids the existence of ultraextreme black
holes. The conditions,under which divergencies of quantum stresses in a free
falling frame can disappear, are found. We derive the closed equation with
respect to the metric as a function of the dilaton field that enables one,
choosing the form of the metric, to restore corresponding Lagrangian. It is
demonstrated that exactly solvable models, found earlier, can be extended to
include an electric charge only in two cases: either the dilaton-gravitation
coupling is proportional to the potential term, or the latter vanishes. The
second case leads to the effective potential with a negative amplitude and we
analyze, how this fact affects the structure of spacetime. We also discuss the
role of quantum backreaction in the relationship between extremal horizons and
the branch of solutions with a constant dilaton.Comment: 31 pages. In v.2 typo in Ref. [2] corrected, 4 references added.
Accepted in Class. Quant. Gra
Bibliometric Evaluation vs. Informed Peer Review: Evidence from Italy
A relevant question for the organization of large scale research assessments is whether bibliometric evaluation and informed peer review where reviewers know where the work was published, yield similar results. It would suggest, for instance, that less costly bibliometric evaluation might - at least partly - replace informed peer review, or that bibliometric evaluation could reliably monitor research in between assessment exercises. We draw on our experience of evaluating Italian research in Economics, Business and Statistics, where almost 12,000 publications dated 2004-2010 were assessed. A random sample from the available population of journal articles shows that informed peer review and bibliometric analysis produce similar evaluations of the same set of papers. Whether because of independent convergence in assessment, or the influence of bibliometric information on the community of reviewers, the implication for the organization of these exercises is that these two approaches are substitutes
Bibliometric Evaluation vs. Informed Peer Review:Evidence from Italy
A relevant question for the organization of large scale research assessments is whether
bibliometric evaluation and informed peer review where reviewers know where the work was
published, yield similar results. It would suggest, for instance, that less costly bibliometric
evaluation might - at least partly - replace informed peer review, or that bibliometric
evaluation could reliably monitor research in between assessment exercises. We draw on our
experience of evaluating Italian research in Economics, Business and Statistics, where almost
12,000 publications dated 2004-2010 were assessed. A random sample from the available
population of journal articles shows that informed peer review and bibliometric analysis
produce similar evaluations of the same set of papers. Whether because of independent
convergence in assessment, or the influence of bibliometric information on the community of
reviewers, the implication for the organization of these exercises is that these two approaches
are substitutes
Currents, Charges, and Canonical Structure of Pseudodual Chiral Models
We discuss the pseudodual chiral model to illustrate a class of
two-dimensional theories which have an infinite number of conservation laws but
allow particle production, at variance with naive expectations. We describe the
symmetries of the pseudodual model, both local and nonlocal, as transmutations
of the symmetries of the usual chiral model. We refine the conventional
algorithm to more efficiently produce the nonlocal symmetries of the model, and
we discuss the complete local current algebra for the pseudodual theory. We
also exhibit the canonical transformation which connects the usual chiral model
to its fully equivalent dual, further distinguishing the pseudodual theory.Comment: 15 pages, ANL-HEP-PR-93-85,Miami-TH-1-93,Revtex (references updated,
format improved to Revtex
Closed strings in Misner space: a toy model for a Big Bounce ?
Misner space, also known as the Lorentzian orbifold , is one
of the simplest examples of a cosmological singularity in string theory. In
this lecture, we review the semi-classical propagation of closed strings in
this background, with a particular emphasis on the twisted sectors of the
orbifold. Tree-level scattering amplitudes and the one-loop vacuum amplitude
are also discussed.Comment: 30 pages, 3 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of the NATO ASI and
EC Summer School ``String Theory: from Gauge Interactions to Cosmology'',
Cargese, France, June 7-19, 200
Effect of ospemifene on moderate or severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy.
Objectives To determine whether assessment of all moderate-to-severe symptoms at baseline gives a more accurate evaluation of the treatment effect of ospemifene in vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) than the most bothersome symptom (MBS) approach. Methods Data were pooled from two pivotal phase-III clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of oral ospemifene 60 mg/day for the treatment of symptoms of VVA (n = 1463 subjects). Symptoms of vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and vaginal and/or vulvar irritation/itching reported as moderate or severe at baseline were evaluated. Clinically relevant differences between ospemifene and placebo were analyzed using a four-point severity scoring system and presented as improvement, substantial improvement, or relief. Results Subjects in these studies reported statistically significant improvement, substantial improvement, and relief for vaginal dryness (p \u3c 0.00001), dyspareunia (p \u3c 0.001) and statistically significant improvement and relief for vaginal and/or vulvar irritation/itching (p \u3c 0.01) from baseline to week 12 with ospemifene compared with placebo. A similar trend was observed for women who reported substantial improvement of vaginal and/or vulvar irritation/itching. Conclusions For drug registration purposes, the use of the MBS model is appealing because of its simplicity and ease of scientific validation. However, the MBS model may underestimate the total magnitude of the clinical benefit of ospemifene treatment for symptomatic women suffering from VVA
Effect of ospemifene on moderate or severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy.
Objectives To determine whether assessment of all moderate-to-severe symptoms at baseline gives a more accurate evaluation of the treatment effect of ospemifene in vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) than the most bothersome symptom (MBS) approach. Methods Data were pooled from two pivotal phase-III clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of oral ospemifene 60 mg/day for the treatment of symptoms of VVA (n = 1463 subjects). Symptoms of vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and vaginal and/or vulvar irritation/itching reported as moderate or severe at baseline were evaluated. Clinically relevant differences between ospemifene and placebo were analyzed using a four-point severity scoring system and presented as improvement, substantial improvement, or relief. Results Subjects in these studies reported statistically significant improvement, substantial improvement, and relief for vaginal dryness (p \u3c 0.00001), dyspareunia (p \u3c 0.001) and statistically significant improvement and relief for vaginal and/or vulvar irritation/itching (p \u3c 0.01) from baseline to week 12 with ospemifene compared with placebo. A similar trend was observed for women who reported substantial improvement of vaginal and/or vulvar irritation/itching. Conclusions For drug registration purposes, the use of the MBS model is appealing because of its simplicity and ease of scientific validation. However, the MBS model may underestimate the total magnitude of the clinical benefit of ospemifene treatment for symptomatic women suffering from VVA
Black Hole Remnants and the Information Puzzle
Magnetically charged dilatonic black holes have a perturbatively infinite
ground state degeneracy associated with an infinite volume throat region of the
geometry. A simple argument based on causality is given that these states do
not have a description as ordinary massive particles in a low-energy effective
field theory. Pair production of magnetic black holes in a weak magnetic field
is estimated in a weakly-coupled semiclassical expansion about an instanton and
found to be finite, despite the infinite degeneracy of states. This suggests
that these states may store the information apparently lost in black hole
scattering processes.Comment: 16 pages, revision has 5 figures uuencode
Cosmological Constraint on the String Dilaton in Gauge-mediated Supersymmetry Breaking Theories
The dilaton field in string theories (if exists) is expected to have a mass
of the order of the gravitino mass which is in a range of
keV--1GeV in gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking models. If it is
the case, the cosmic energy density of coherent dilaton oscillation easily
exceeds the critical density of the present universe. We show that even if this
problem is solved by a late-time entropy production (thermal inflation) a
stringent constraint on the energy density of the dilaton oscillation is
derived from experimental upperbounds on the cosmic X()-ray
backgrounds. This excludes an interesting mass region, , in gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking models.Comment: 13 pages (RevTex file including one figure, use psfig), revised
version to be published in Physical Review Letter
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