13,497 research outputs found
Matrix Models, Argyres-Douglas singularities and double scaling limits
We construct an N=1 theory with gauge group U(nN) and degree n+1 tree level
superpotential whose matrix model spectral curve develops an A_{n+1}
Argyres-Douglas singularity. We evaluate the coupling constants of the
low-energy U(1)^n theory and show that the large N expansion is singular at the
Argyres-Douglas points. Nevertheless, it is possible to define appropriate
double scaling limits which are conjectured to yield four dimensional
non-critical string theories as proposed by Ferrari. In the Argyres-Douglas
limit the n-cut spectral curve degenerates into a solution with n/2 cuts for
even n and (n+1)/2 cuts for odd n.Comment: 31 pages, 1 figure; the expression of the superpotential has been
corrected and the calculation of the coupling constants of the low-energy
theory has been adde
Effect of ELF e.m. fields on metalloprotein redox-active sites
The peculiarity of the distribution and geometry of metallic ions in enzymes
pushed us to set the hypothesis that metallic ions in active-site act like tiny
antennas able to pick up very feeble e.m. signals. Enzymatic activity of Cu2+,
Zn2+ Superoxide Dismutase (SOD1) and Fe2+ Xanthine Oxidase (XO) has been
studied, following in vitro generation and removal of free radicals. We
observed that Superoxide radicals generation by XO is increased by a weak field
having the Larmor frequency fL of Fe2+ while the SOD1 kinetics is sensibly
reduced by exposure to a weak field having the frequency fL of Cu2+ ion.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure
Singularities of N=1 Supersymmetric Gauge Theory and Matrix Models
In N=1 supersymmetric U(N) gauge theory with adjoint matter and
polynomial tree-level superpotential , the massless fluctuations about
each quantum vacuum are generically described by gauge theory for some
n. However, by tuning the parameters of to non-generic values, we can
reach singular vacua where additional fields become massless. Using both the
matrix model prescription and the strong-coupling approach, we study in detail
three examples of such singularities: the singularities of the n=1 branch,
intersections of n=1 and n=2 branches, and a class of N=1 Argyres-Douglas
points. In all three examples, we find that the matrix model description of the
low-energy physics breaks down in some way at the singularity.Comment: 29 pages, 1 figure. Revised section 1, fixed misprints in section
3.1, added clarifications and reference
Updating contextual sensory expectations for adaptive behaviour
The brain has the extraordinary capacity to construct predictive models of the environment by internalizing statistical regularities in the sensory inputs. The resulting sensory expectations shape how we perceive and react to the world; at the neural level, this relates to decreased neural responses to expected than unexpected stimuli (‘expectation suppression’). Crucially, expectations may need revision as context changes. However, existing research has often neglected this issue. Further, it is unclear whether contextual revisions apply selectively to expectations relevant to the task at hand, hence serving adaptive behaviour. The present fMRI study examined how contextual visual expectations spread throughout the cortical hierarchy as participants update their beliefs. We created a volatile environment with two state spaces presented over separate contexts and controlled by an independent contextualizing signal. Participants attended a training session before scanning to learn contextual temporal associations among pairs of object images. The fMRI experiment then tested for the emergence of contextual expectation suppression in two separate tasks, respectively with task-relevant and task-irrelevant expectations. Behavioural and neural effects of contextual expectation emerged progressively across the cortical hierarchy as participants attuned themselves to the context: expectation suppression appeared first in the insula, inferior frontal gyrus and posterior parietal cortex, followed by the ventral visual stream, up to early visual cortex. This applied selectively to task-relevant expectations. Taken together, the present results suggest that an insular and frontoparietal executive control network may guide the flexible deployment of contextual sensory expectations for adaptive behaviour in our complex and dynamic world.<br
Intermixture of extended edge and localized bulk energy levels in macroscopic Hall systems
We study the spectrum of a random Schroedinger operator for an electron
submitted to a magnetic field in a finite but macroscopic two dimensional
system of linear dimensions equal to L. The y direction is periodic and in the
x direction the electron is confined by two smooth increasing boundary
potentials. The eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian are classified according to
their associated quantum mechanical current in the y direction. Here we look at
an interval of energies inside the first Landau band of the random operator for
the infinite plane. In this energy interval, with large probability, there
exist O(L) eigenvalues with positive or negative currents of O(1). Between each
of these there exist O(L^2) eigenvalues with infinitesimal current
O(exp(-cB(log L)^2)). We explain what is the relevance of this analysis to the
integer quantum Hall effect.Comment: 29 pages, no figure
Myelodysplastic syndrome secondary to chemo: and radiotherapy MDS related to the treatment
The leukaemogenic effect of chemotherapeutic agents after treatment for other malignancies have been well described. Myelodysplastic syndrome secondary to chemo- and radiotherapy (MDS-t) usually develops four to seven years after the initial exposure to chemotherapy frequently involving young patients, shows a high incidence of transformation to AML, is associated with severe cytopenias, trilineage dysplasia, reduced marrow cellularity and fibrosis, and presents an incidence of chromosomal abnormalities of up to 80% of the cases. The most common abnormalities are related to chromosomes 5 and 7. Alkylating agents have been considered the most common drugs associated with MDS-t. High dose chemotherapy used as part of the conditioning regimen prior to bone marrow transplantation as well as traditional regimens such as COPP/ABV and BEACOPP have also been associated with MDS-t. Recently, drugs such as azathioprine, rituximab and cladribine have been reported as causes too. Due to the increasing survival of patients suffering from other malignancies, MDS-t results as a mutagenic effect of these therapies and is related to poor prognosis.O efeito leucemogênico dos agentes quimioterápicos após o tratamento para neoplasias é bem conhecido. SÃndrome mielodisplásica secundária a quimio ou radioterapia, também denominada relacionada à terapia (SMD-t), geralmente ocorre quatro a sete anos após a exposição inicial ao agente quimio ou radioterápico, acomete habitualmente pacientes jovens, apresenta alta incidência de transformação para leucemia mielóide aguda (LMA), está associada a citopenias severas, displasia das três linhagens, celularidade medular reduzida e fibrose, e anormalidades citogenéticas em até 80% dos casos. As anormalidades mais freqüentes envolvem os cromossomos 5 e 7. No tocante à quimioterapia, os agentes alquilantes são as drogas mais comumente associadas com SMD-t. Quimioterápicos em altas doses usados como parte de regimes de condicionamento para transplantes de medula óssea e radioterapia, além dos esquemas COPP/ABV e BEACOPP, estão associados com SMD-t. Recentemente, drogas como azatioprina, cladribina e rituximab também foram relacionadas à SMD-t. Devido ao aumento da sobrevida de pacientes acometidos por neoplasias malignas, a SMD-t surge como efeito mutagênico desses tratamentos e confere prognóstico desfavorável.UNIFESP-EPMUNIFESP-EPM Disciplina de Hematologia e HemoterapiaUNIFESP, EPM, Disciplina de Hematologia e HemoterapiaSciEL
Tunable delay lines in silicon photonics: coupled resonators and photonic crystals, a comparison
In this paper, we report a direct comparison between coupled resonator optical waveguides (CROWs) and photonic crystal waveguides (PhCWs), which have both been exploited as tunable delay lines. The two structures were fabricated on the same silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technological platform, with the same fabrication facilities and evaluated under the same signal bit-rate conditions. We compare the frequency- and time-domain response of the two structures; the physical mechanism underlying the tuning of the delay; the main limits induced by loss, dispersion, and structural disorder; and the impact of CROW and PhCW tunable delay lines on the transmission of data stream intensity and phase modulated up to 100 Gb/s. The main result of this study is that, in the considered domain of applications, CROWs and PhCWs behave much more similarly than one would expect. At data rates around 100 Gb/s, CROWs and PhCWs can be placed in competition. Lower data rates, where longer absolute delays are required and propagation loss becomes a critical issue, are the preferred domain of CROWs fabricated with large ring resonators, while at data rates in the terabit range, PhCWs remain the leading technology
GHASP: an H kinematic survey of spiral galaxies - X. Surface photometry, decompositions and the Tully-Fisher relation in the Rc-band
We present Rc-band surface photometry for 170 of the 203 galaxies in GHASP,
Gassendi H-Alpha survey of SPirals, a sample of late-type galaxies for which
high-resolution Fabry-Perot H{\alpha} maps have previously been obtained. Our
data set is constructed by new Rc-band observations taken at the Observatoire
de Haute-Provence (OHP), supplemented with Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)
archival data, obtained with the purpose of deriving homogeneous photometric
profiles and parameters. Our results include Rc-band surface brightness
profiles for 170 galaxies and profiles for 108 of these objects. We
catalogue several parameters of general interest for further reference, such as
total magnitude, effective radius and isophotal parameters -- magnitude,
position angle, ellipticity and inclination. We also perform a structural
decomposition of the surface brightness profiles using a multi-component method
in order to separate disks from bulges and bars, and to observe the main
scaling relations involving luminosities, sizes and maximum velocities.
We determine the Rc-band Tully Fisher relation using maximum velocities
derived solely from H rotation curves for a sample of 80 galaxies,
resulting in a slope of , zero point of and an
estimated intrinsic scatter of . We note that, different from
the TF-relation in the near-infrared derived for the same sample, no change in
the slope of the relation is seen at the low-mass end (for galaxies with
km/s). We suggest that this different behaviour of the Tully
Fisher relation (with the optical relation being described by a single
power-law while the near-infrared by two) may be caused by differences in the
stellar mass to light ratio for galaxies with km/s.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figure
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