89 research outputs found
De Sitter Cosmic Strings and Supersymmetry
We study massive spinor fields in the geometry of a straight cosmic string in
a de Sitter background. We find a hidden N=2 supersymmetry in the fermionic
solutions of the equations of motion. We connect the zero mode solutions to the
heat-kernel regularized Witten index of the supersymmetric algebra.Comment: Version similar to the one accepted by General Relativity and
Gravitatio
Resistivity study of the pseudogap phase for (Hg,Re) - 1223 superconductors
The pseudogap phase above the critical temperature of high
superconductors (HTSC) presents different energy scales and it is currently a
matter of intense study. The complexity of the HTSC normal state requires very
accurate measurements with the purpose of distinguishing different types of
phenomena. Here we have performed systematically studies through electrical
resistivity () measurements by several different current densities in
order to obtain an optimal current for each sample. This approach allows to
determine reliable values of the pseudogap temperature , the layer
coupling temperature between the superconductor layers , the
fluctuation temperature and the critical temperature as
function of the doping . The interpretation of these different temperature
scales allows to characterize possible scenarios for the (Hg,Re) - 1223 normal
state. This method, described in detail here, and used to derive the
(Hg,Re)-1223 phase diagram is general and can be applied to any HTSC.Comment: 31 pages, 12 figures, Latex; 25 pages, LaTeX; 11 figures; rewrited
section II and III; added 18 reference; rewrited title, added discussion
sectio
Giants On Deformed Backgrounds
We study giant graviton probes in the framework of the three--parameter
deformation of the AdS_5 x S^5 background. We examine both the case when the
brane expands in the deformed part of the geometry and the case when it blows
up into AdS. Performing a detailed analysis of small fluctuations around the
giants, the configurations turn out to be stable. Our results hold even for the
supersymmetric Lunin-Maldacena deformation.Comment: LaTex, 28 pages, uses JHEP3; v2: minor corrections, references added;
v3: final version accepted for publication in JHE
Lessons from giant gravitons on
We implement Mikhailov's holomorphic curve construction to explore various
properties of giant gravitons in type IIB string theory on . By coloring the D-brane worldvolume, we are able to show how, in the
string theory, the giant graviton factorizes at its maximal size into two
dibaryons - topologically stable D-branes wrapping non-contractible cycles in
the . This is related to the structure of the symmetry group of the
emergent Klebanov-Witten gauge theory being a product -
instead of the canonical . Finally, we complete this study with a
systematic and detailed construction of the spectrum of small fluctuations
about the giant graviton configuration. Curiously, we find that the fluctuation
spectrum depends on the size of the giant. The similarity of the operator
structures in the Klebanov-Witten and ABJM theories leads us to believe that
the D4-brane giant graviton in type IIA string theory on factorizes into two dibaryons in a
qualitatively similar way.Comment: 39 pages; abstract reworded slightly; additional comments included in
subsection 3.3; section 5 revised with the addition of subsection 5.3; added
reference
Impact of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations on sustained virologic response in HCV-infected patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort
BACKGROUND:
Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice.
METHODS:
A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively.
RESULTS:
SVR24 rates were 46.1% (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1, 2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced 651 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with 651 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not 655.
CONCLUSIONS:
In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin
SaĂșde e desenvolvimento econĂŽmico: atualização de um tema
Considering the importance of the interrelationship between health and economic development, a review was made of selected papers on the subject published in the last 20 years, both in Brazil and abroad. The review shows a tendency towards an objective analysis of the subject by the use of refined statistical analysis and econometric methods. Due to the relative lack of this kind of study in Brazil, more cooperation is recommended among economists, planners and physicians, in an effort to fultil this gap by researching together.Tendo em vista a importĂąncia das relaçÔes entre saĂșde e desenvolvimento econĂŽmico, foi feita uma revisĂŁo do tema destacando trabalhos publicados nas duas Ășltimas dĂ©cadas, tanto na literatura mĂ©dica estrangeira como na nacional. A revisĂŁo revela uma tendĂȘncia Ă anĂĄlise objetiva do problema, mediante o uso de anĂĄlise estatĂstica sofisticada e mĂ©todos economĂ©tricos. Diante da carĂȘncia deste tipo de estudos no Brasil, recomenda-se maior colaboração entre mĂ©dicos, planejadores e economistas para realizar pesquisas que preencham esta lacuna
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