Using the BFKL resummation to fit DIS data: collinear and running coupling effects

The proton structure function F2 is studied in the low x regime using BFKL evolution. The next to leading logarithmic (NLL) analysis requires the inclusion of running coupling effects which lead to off-diagonal terms in the evolution kernel. An all-orders resummation is used to improve the collinear behavior of the NLL BFKL result. We emphasize the theoretical uncertainties that appear throughout the analysis and give a comparison to the combined HERA data.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, proceedings of the XX Workshop on Deep-Inelastic Scattering and Related Subjects, 26-30 March, University of Bonn (2012

Stellar Motions in the Polar Ring Galaxy NGC 4650A

We present the first measurement of the stellar kinematics in the polar ring of NGC 4650A. There is well defined rotation, with the stars and gas rotating in the same direction, and with similar amplitude. The gaseous and stellar kinematics suggest an approximately flat rotation curve, providing further support for the hypothesis that the polar material resides in a disk rather than in a ring. The kinematics of the emission line gas at and near the center of the S0 suggests that the polar disk lacks a central hole. We have not detected evidence for two, equal mass, counterrotating stellar polar streams, as is predicted in the resonance levitation model proposed by Tremaine & Yu. A merger seems the most likely explanation for the structure and kinematics of NGC 4650A.Comment: 4 pages, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Exclusive central production of heavy quarks at the LHC

We study the exclusive production of heavy flavors at central rapidities in hadron-hadron collisions within the kT factorisation formalism. Since this involves regions of small Bjorken x in the unintegrated gluon densities, we include the next-to-leading order BFKL contributions working directly in transverse momentum representation. Our results are presented in a form suitable for Monte Carlo implementation.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur

Gluon Saturation and Black Hole Criticality

We discuss the recent proposal in hep-th/0611312 where it was shown that the critical anomalous dimension associated to the onset of non-linear effects in the high energy limit of QCD coincides with the critical exponent governing the radius of the black hole formed in the spherically symmetric collapse of a massless scalar field. We argue that a new essential ingredient in this mapping between gauge theory and gravity is continuous self-similarity, not present in the scalar field case but in the spherical collapse of a perfect fluid with barotropic equation of state. We identify this property with geometric scaling, present in DIS data at small values of Bjorken x. We also show that the Choptuik exponent in dimension five tends to the QCD critical value in the traceless limit of the energy momentum tensor.Comment: Talk given at 12th International Conference on Elastic and Diffractive Scattering: Forward Physics and QCD, Hamburg, DESY, Germany, 21-25 May 200

Are Transition Economy Workers Underpaid?

We examine the extent to which workers in transition and developed market economies are able to obtain wages that fully reflect their skills and labor force characteristics. We find that workers in two transition economies, the Czech Republic and Poland, are able to better attain the maximum wage available than are workers in a sample of developed market economies. This greater wage-setting efficiency in the transition economies appears to be more the result of social and demographic characteristics of the labor force than of the mechanisms for setting wages or of labor market policies.labor markets, wage inefficiency, job search, stochastic frontier, economic transition

First order perturbations of the Einstein-Straus and Oppenheimer-Snyder models

We derive the linearly perturbed matching conditions between a Schwarzschild spacetime region with stationary and axially symmetric perturbations and a FLRW spacetime with arbitrary perturbations. The matching hypersurface is also perturbed arbitrarily and, in all cases, the perturbations are decomposed into scalars using the Hodge operator on the sphere. This allows us to write down the matching conditions in a compact way. In particular, we find that the existence of a perturbed (rotating, stationary and vacuum) Schwarzschild cavity in a perturbed FLRW universe forces the cosmological perturbations to satisfy constraints that link rotational and gravitational wave perturbations. We also prove that if the perturbation on the FLRW side vanishes identically, then the vacuole must be perturbatively static and hence Schwarzschild. By the dual nature of the problem, the first result translates into links between rotational and gravitational wave perturbations on a perturbed Oppenheimer-Snyder model, where the perturbed FLRW dust collapses in a perturbed Schwarzschild environment which rotates in equilibrium. The second result implies in particular that no region described by FLRW can be a source of the Kerr metric.Comment: LaTeX; 29 page

The Stellar and Gas Kinematics of Several Irregular Galaxies

We present long-slit spectra of three irregular galaxies from which we determinethe stellar kinematics in two of the galaxies (NGC 1156 and NGC 4449) and ionized-gas kinematics in all three (including NGC 2366). We compare this to the optical morphology and to the HI kinematics of the galaxies. In the ionized gas, we see a linear velocity gradient in all three galaxies. In NGC 1156 we also detect a weak linear velocity gradient in the stars of (5+/-1/sin i) km/s/kpc to a radius of 1.6 kpc. The stars and gas are rotating about the same axis, but this is different from the major axis of the stellar bar which dominates the optical light of the galaxy. In NGC 4449 we do not detect organized rotation of the stars and place an upper limit of (3/sin i) km/s/kpc to a radius of 1.2 kpc. For NGC 4449, which has signs of a past interaction with another galaxy, we develop a model to fit the observed kinematics of the stars and gas. In this model the stellar component is in a rotating disk seen nearly face-on while the gas is in a tilted disk with orbits whose planes precess in the gravitational potential. This model reproduces the apparent counter-rotation of the inner gas of the galaxy. The peculiar orbits of the gas are presumed due to acquisition of gas in the past interaction.Comment: To be published in ApJ, November 20, 200

Low-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm Involving the Endometrium and Presenting with Mucinous Vaginal Discharge.

Primary appendiceal mucinous lesions are uncommon and represent a spectrum from nonneoplastic mucous retention cysts to invasive adenocarcinoma. Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMNs) represent an intermediate category on this spectrum and can be classified according to whether or not they are confined to the appendix. Although LAMNs are frequently confined to the appendix, they can also spread to the peritoneum and clinically progress as pseudomyxoma peritonei (i.e., mucinous ascites). Thus, the appropriate classification of appendiceal primary neoplasia is essential for prognosis and influences clinical management. In addition, the precise classification, management, and clinical outcome of patients with disseminated peritoneal disease remain controversial. Here, we report an unusual case of LAMN with pseudomyxoma peritonei that initially presented with mucinous and bloody vaginal discharge. Pathological evaluation revealed low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm with secondary involvement of the peritoneum, ovaries, and endometrial surface. Therefore, LAMN should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mucinous vaginal discharge