73 research outputs found
Quantization of the Chern-Simons Coupling Constant
We investigate the quantum consistency of p-form Maxwell-Chern-Simons
electrodynamics in 3p+2 spacetime dimensions (for p odd). These are the
dimensions where the Chern--Simons term is cubic, i.e., of the form FFA. For
the theory to be consistent at the quantum level in the presence of magnetic
and electric sources, we find that the Chern--Simons coupling constant must be
quantized. We compare our results with the bosonic sector of eleven dimensional
supergravity and find that the Chern--Simons coupling constant in that case
takes its corresponding minimal allowed value.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure, JHEP3.cls. Equation (8.6) corrected and perfect
agreement with previous results is obtaine
Spin Two Glueball Mass and Glueball Regge Trajectory from Supergravity
We calculate the mass of the lowest lying spin two glueball in N=1 super
Yang-Mills from the dual Klebanov-Strassler background. We show that the Regge
trajectory obtained is linear; the 0++, 1-- and 2++ states lie on a line of
slope 0.23 -measured in units of the conifold deformation. We also compare mass
ratios with lattice data and find agreement within one standard deviation.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figure
Gravitational Lorentz Violations from M-Theory
In an attempt to bridge the gap between M-theory and braneworld
phenomenology, we present various gravitational Lorentz-violating braneworlds
which arise from p-brane systems. Lorentz invariance is still preserved locally
on the braneworld. For certain p-brane intersections, the massless graviton is
quasi-localized. This also results from an M5-brane in a C-field. In the case
of a p-brane perturbed from extremality, the quasi-localized graviton is
massive. For a braneworld arising from global AdS_5, gravitons travel faster
when further in the bulk, thereby apparently traversing distances faster than
light.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figure, LaTeX, references added, minor corrections and
addition
Effective Field Theories on Non-Commutative Space-Time
We consider Yang-Mills theories formulated on a non-commutative space-time
described by a space-time dependent anti-symmetric field .
Using Seiberg-Witten map techniques we derive the leading order operators for
the effective field theories that take into account the effects of such a
background field. These effective theories are valid for a weakly
non-commutative space-time. It is remarkable to note that already simple models
for can help to loosen the bounds on space-time
non-commutativity coming from low energy physics. Non-commutative geometry
formulated in our framework is a potential candidate for new physics beyond the
standard model.Comment: 22 pages, 1 figur
Unitarity bounds on low scale quantum gravity
We study the unitarity of models with low scale quantum gravity both in four
dimensions and in models with a large extra-dimensional volume. We find that
models with low scale quantum gravity have problems with unitarity below the
scale at which gravity becomes strong. An important consequence of our work is
that their first signal at the Large Hadron Collider would not be of a
gravitational nature such as graviton emission or small black holes, but rather
linked to the mechanism which fixes the unitarity problem. We also study models
with scalar fields with non minimal couplings to the Ricci scalar. We consider
the strength of gravity in these models and study the consequences for
inflation models with non-minimally coupled scalar fields. We show that a
single scalar field with a large non-minimal coupling can lower the Planck mass
in the TeV region. In that model, it is possible to lower the scale at which
gravity becomes strong down to 14 TeV without violating unitarity below that
scale.Comment: 15 page
Molecular richness and biotechnological potential of bacteria cultured from Irciniidae sponges in the north-east Atlantic
Several bioactive compounds originally isolated from marine sponges have been later ascribed or suggested to be synthesized by their symbionts. The cultivation of sponge-associated bacteria provides one possible route to the discovery of these metabolites. Here, we determine the bacterial richness cultured from two irciniid sponge species, Sarcotragus spinosulus and Ircinia variabilis, and ascertain their biotechnological potential. A total of 279 isolates were identified from 13 sponge specimens. These were classified into 17 genera - with Pseudovibrio, Ruegeria and Vibrio as the most dominant - and 3 to 10 putatively new bacterial species. While 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified 29 bacterial phylotypes at the 'species' level (97% sequence similarity), whole-genome BOX-PCR fingerprinting uncovered 155 genotypes, unveiling patterns of specimen-dependent occurrence of prevailing bacterial genomes across sponge individuals. Among the BOX-PCR genotypes recovered, 34% were active against clinically relevant strains, with Vibrio isolates producing the most active antagonistic effect. Several Pseudovibrio genotypes showed the presence of polyketide synthase (PKS) genes, and these were for the first time detected in isolates of the genus Aquimarina (Bacteroidetes). Our results highlight great biotechnological potential and interest for the Irciniidae sponge family and their diversified bacterial genomes.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [PTDC/MAR/101431/2008]; FCT [SFRH/BD/60873/2009, SFRH/BPD/62946/2009
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